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In cricket, playing for a long time is a big achievement. Making it to 100 One Day Internationals for India is a huge deal. It shows you've made it through tough competition, injuries, and tons of pressure from fans for about ten years.
Most cricketers are thrilled to play their 100th game and enjoy the cheers. But some make it even more special by scoring a century. Players like Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma have broken many records, but this particular feat is so rare that only one Indian player has ever done it.
Here's the story of that special win, and the near miss that broke Indian hearts a few years back.
As of early 2026, Shikhar Dhawan remains the only Indian cricketer in history to score a hundred in his 100th ODI match.
Known fondly as Gabbar for his fearless attitude and moustache-twirling celebrations, Dhawan etched his name in the history books during India's tour of South Africa in 2018.
The Story of the Match: This wasn't just any match; it was the famous "Pink ODI" in Johannesburg, a fixture where South Africa historically never lost. Walking out to bat in his milestone 100th game, Dhawan looked in sublime touch from the very first ball.
He punished the South African pacers Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, and Chris Morris with his trademark cover drives and cuts. He reached his century off 99 balls, removing his helmet and soaking in the applause with his signature arms-outstretched celebration.
His innings of 109 (studded with 10 fours and 2 sixes) helped India post a competitive total of 289/7. Although South Africa eventually won the match via the D/L method due to rain, Dhawan’s record remained the highlight of the day. He became the 9th batsman in world cricket history to achieve this feat.
Before Shikhar Dhawan, one man came agonizingly close to this record. It was none other than the Prince of Calcutta, Sourav Ganguly.
In a World Cup match against South Africa (ironically, the same opponent as Dhawan), Ganguly was playing his 100th ODI. He played a brilliant knock, anchoring the Indian innings. He reached 97 and looked set for a historic ton. However, in a bid to accelerate, he was dismissed just 3 runs short of the milestone.
For 19 years, Ganguly’s 97 remained the highest score by an Indian in a 100th ODI, until Dhawan finally crossed the line in 2018.
You might be wondering how other giants performed in their milestone matches. Surprisingly, the pressure of the 100th game often gets to the best of them:
This list proves just how difficult it is to focus and perform when the world is celebrating your longevity.
While Dhawan is the only Indian, he sits at a table with some international legends. Here are a few notable names from around the world who have also scored a century in their 100th ODI:
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