Batters to score ODI century on their birthdays

Not every player gets to score a hundred on their birthday, some don't even play a game on their birthday while some fail to do so. But those who had scored a ton on their birthday must reminisce for a long time. Only a few batsmen in the history of international cricket have scored a century on their birthday. 

In this article, we will take a look at the batters to score ODI century on their birthdays.

Also Read: IND vs AUS: Highest Individual ODI Scores by Indians vs Australia

Batters to score ODI century on their birthdays

1. Vinod Kambli vs England (18 Jan, 1993)

Vinod Kambli became the first-ever player to score an ODI century on his birthday (21st) when he scored 100* against England in the second match in Jaipur on January 18, 1993. He hit an undefeated century, making 100 runs off 149 balls, including nine boundaries and one six. Despite his heroics, India lost by four wickets versus England.

2. Sachin Tendulkar vs Australia (24 Apr, 1998)

Sachin Tendulkar, one of cricket’s all-time greats, celebrated his 25th birthday in spectacular style. He demonstrated his exceptional talent in a match against Australia in Sharjah in 1998, hitting 134 runs off 131 balls, including 12 boundaries and three sixes. India secured a dramatic victory, winning by six wickets. 

He single-handedly took down the likes of Damien Fleming, Michael Kasprowicz, Shane Warne, and Tom Moody and helped India hunt down 273 runs inside 49 overs.

3. Sanath Jayasuriya vs Bangladesh (30 Jun, 2008)

Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka showed his enduring talent in a memorable encounter in a group-stage match of Asia Cup 2008 against Bangladesh on his 39th birthday. With 16 fours and six sixes, Jayasuriya batted well, scoring 130 runs off 88 deliveries. 

The birthday boy had an able partner in the name of Kumar Sangakkara. The two champion lefties went on to put a mammoth 200-run stand for the opening wicket. Sri Lanka posted 332 runs on the board and won the game by a massive 158-run margin, with Muttiah Muralitharan taking a fifer.

4. Ross Taylor vs Pakistan (8 Mar, 2011)

Ross Taylor of New Zealand had a spectacular performance against Pakistan in Match 24 of the 2011 ODI World Cup in Pallekele on his 27th birthday. Taylor struck an undefeated 131 runs off 124 balls, with eight fours and seven sixes. He scored 68 runs off his first 105 balls before he went berserk in the last five overs. The batter hammered as many as 63 runs off his last 19 balls, including clobbering 28 runs off a Shoaib Akhtar over.

In that encounter, New Zealand won convincingly, winning by a large margin of 110 runs. On the course, Ross Taylor became the first batsman in ODI World Cup history to score a century on his birthday.

5. Tom Latham vs Netherlands (2 Apr, 2022)

In a stunning encounter against the Netherlands in Hamilton in 2022, New Zealand’s Tom Latham marked his name into cricketing history on his 30th birthday. He hit an undefeated 140 runs off 123 balls, a magnificent performance that contained 10 fours and 5 sixes. Latham also holds the record for scoring the highest individual ODI score on a birthday.

New Zealand were in all sorts of trouble at 89/6 when Latham came up with his career-best individual score. Latham played a true captain's knock and guided his team to 264/9. The Dutch could only muster 146 in reply, thus losing the game by 118 runs.

6. Mitchell Marsh vs Pakistan (20 Oct, 2023)

Mitchell Marsh, an Australian all-rounder, delivered a fantastic performance against Pakistan in Bengaluru during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on his 32nd birthday. He scored 121 runs off 108 balls, with 10 fours and nine sixes. He became the second batsman in ODI World Cup history to get a century on his birthday.

Marsh was involved in a 259-run stand for the opening wicket with David Warner. Both batters hammered the Pakistani bowlers left, right, and center. Warner was in his beast mode as well, scoring 163 off only 124 balls. Australia won the game by 62 runs.

Also Read:  Most Runs for India Against Australia in ODIs

7. Virat Kohli vs South Africa (5 Nov, 2023)

Virat Kohli gave all his a moment to remember for a lifetime when he showed a phenomenal show at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. In a table-toppers clash against South Africa, he played a mature knock and scored his much-anticipated 49th ODI hundred (101*), equalling his idol Sachin Tendulkar's record.

Kohli's knock helped his side score an above-par total of 326/5. He stood rock-solid at one end and frustrated the Proteas bowlers for the entire innings.