by When we talk about modern cricket’s greatest batsmen, Virat Kohli stands tall among the elite. His ability to score hundreds across different formats has made him a true legend of the game. From Test matches that last five days to quick-fire T20 games that finish in three hours, Kohli has shown he can adapt and excel everywhere. His journey of scoring centuries began in 2009 and continues strong in 2025, showing his amazing consistency and longevity at the highest level of cricket.
Kohli’s talent for making big scores isn’t just about natural skill – it’s about his incredible work ethic, mental strength, and passion for the game. Whether playing for India in international matches or for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, he approaches each innings with the same hunger for runs. His technique has been refined over years of practice, allowing him to face fast bowlers and spin specialists with equal confidence.
What makes Kohli special is not just the number of centuries he’s scored but how he’s scored them. Many of his hundreds have come while chasing targets, helping India win crucial matches. His most recent century against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final shows he still has the ability to perform when the pressure is highest. The unbeaten 100 off 111 balls helped India chase down 242 runs with ease, adding his 51st ODI century to his growing list of achievements.
Virat Kohli Total Centuries in All Format
In this detailed guide, we’ll explore Kohli’s century-making journey across all formats of cricket. We’ll look at his numbers in Tests, One Day Internationals, T20 Internationals, and the Indian Premier League. By breaking down his achievements year by year and format by format, we’ll clearly understand why he’s considered one of cricket’s all-time greats and how he’s built his legacy one century at a time.
Virat Kohli Centuries In Every Format
Virat Kohli’s batting excellence stretches across all formats of cricket. From the patience-testing Test matches to the fast-paced T20s, Kohli has proven his worth with the bat repeatedly. His ability to adapt to different formats shows his versatility as a batsman.
Let’s take a detailed look at his century-making achievements in each format:
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 123 | 210 | 9,230 | 254* | 46.9 | 55.6 | 30 | 31 | 1,027 | 30 |
| ODI | 299 | 287 | 14,085 | 183 | 58.2 | 93.4 | 51 | 73 | 1,318 | 152 |
| T20I | 125 | 117 | 4,188 | 122* | 48.7 | 137.0 | 1 | 38 | 369 | 124 |
| IPL | 252 | 244 | 8,004 | 113 | 38.7 | 132.0 | 8 | 55 | 705 | 272 |
| Total | 799 | 858 | 35,507 | 254* | 48.1 | 104.5 | 90 | 197 | 3,419 | 578 |
Test Centuries
In Test cricket, considered the most challenging format, Kohli has scored 30 centuries in 123 matches. This puts him among the top century-makers in Test cricket history. His highest score of 254* came against South Africa in 2019, showing his ability to play long innings when needed.
What makes Kohli’s Test centuries special is:
- Variety of conditions – He has scored hundreds in challenging overseas conditions like England, Australia, and South Africa
- Match-winning knocks – Many of his centuries have directly contributed to India’s victories
- Technical excellence – His solid technique has helped him score against quality bowling attacks
- Mental fortitude – His ability to concentrate for long periods has been crucial for Test success
ODI Centuries
The One Day International format is where Kohli truly shines. With 51 centuries in 299 matches, he is second only to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar (who has 49 ODI centuries) in this format. His average of 58.2 in ODIs is among the highest in cricket history for players with significant careers.
Kohli’s ODI centuries stand out because of:
- Chase master – More than half of his ODI hundreds have come while chasing targets
- Win percentage – India has won a huge majority of matches when Kohli scores a century
- Consistency – He has scored centuries against all major cricketing nations
- Quick scoring – Most of his hundreds come at a strike rate above 90, helping team momentum
T20I Centuries
T20 International cricket, with its limited 20 overs, doesn’t offer many opportunities to score centuries. Despite this challenge, Kohli has managed to score 1 century in this format – a brilliant 122* against Afghanistan in 2022. This shows his ability to accelerate when needed while maintaining his classical batting style.
IPL Centuries
In the Indian Premier League, representing Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kohli has accumulated 8 centuries over 252 matches. His IPL hundreds have often been spectacular displays of aggressive yet controlled batting, with a good mix of traditional and innovative shots.
Virat Kohli Centuries By Years
Looking at Kohli’s century-scoring pattern year by year gives us insight into his growth as a batsman and his peak-performing years. This breakdown shows his consistency and how he has evolved through different phases of his career.
| Year | Matches | Centuries | Notable Performances |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 10 | 1 | First ODI century against Sri Lanka |
| 2010 | 27 | 3 | Started showing consistency in ODIs |
| 2011 | 43 | 4 | World Cup winner; growing in confidence |
| 2012 | 40 | 8 | Breakthrough year; first Test century in Australia |
| 2013 | 43 | 6 | Established himself as a key player |
| 2014 | 38 | 8 | Difficult England tour but strong everywhere else |
| 2015 | 31 | 4 | World Cup performance; growing maturity |
| 2016 | 37 | 7 | Dominated IPL with 4 centuries in one season |
| 2017 | 46 | 11 | Peak form; hundreds across formats |
| 2018 | 37 | 11 | Continued dominance; century in England |
| 2019 | 44 | 7 | World Cup; consistent across formats |
| 2020 | 22 | 0 | Pandemic year; form slump began |
| 2021 | 24 | 0 | Continued struggle for big scores |
| 2022 | 37 | 2 | Return to form; first T20I century |
| 2023 | 33 | 8 | Strong comeback year; ODI World Cup performance |
| 2024 | 13 | 1 | IPL century against Rajasthan Royals |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | Century against Pakistan in Champions Trophy |
Peak Years (2017-2018)
The years 2017 and 2018 stand out as Kohli’s most prolific, with 11 centuries in each year. During this period, he seemed almost unstoppable, scoring hundreds with remarkable consistency across formats.
In 2017, he averaged over 76 in ODIs and 68 in Tests, highlighting his dominance. This period saw him score centuries in difficult overseas conditions, including South Africa and England.
Lean Period (2020-2021)
Perhaps the most challenging phase of Kohli’s career came during 2020 and 2021, when he didn’t score a single century in any format. This was unprecedented for a player of his caliber and led to much discussion about his form.
Several factors contributed to this dip:
- COVID-19 disruptions to cricket schedules
- Captaincy pressure across formats
- Technical adjustments that temporarily affected his game
- Mental fatigue from being in bio-bubbles
Return to Form (2022-2025)
Starting in 2022, Kohli began rediscovering his century-making ability. By 2023, he was back to his prolific best, scoring 8 centuries across formats. His century against Pakistan in the 2025 Champions Trophy final shows he’s still capable of delivering when it matters most.
This resurgence has been characterized by:
- Renewed focus after stepping down from captaincy
- Technical refinements to his game
- Improved shot selection and patience
- Mental freshness and enjoyment of cricket again
Centuries By Virat Kohli In IPL
The Indian Premier League has seen some of Kohli’s most spectacular batting performances. His 8 IPL centuries have come at crucial times for Royal Challengers Bangalore, often helping the team secure important victories.
Let’s look at each of his IPL hundreds in detail:
| Runs | Balls | Against | 6s | 4s | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100* | 63 | Gujarat Lions | 1 | 11 | Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium | 24-04-2016 |
| 108* | 58 | Rising Pune Supergiant | 8 | 8 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | 07-05-2016 |
| 109 | 55 | Gujarat Lions | 8 | 5 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | 14-05-2016 |
| 113 | 50 | Kings XI Punjab | 8 | 12 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | 18-05-2016 |
| 100 | 58 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 4 | 9 | Eden Gardens | 19-04-2019 |
| 100 | 63 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 4 | 12 | Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium | 18-05-2023 |
| 101* | 61 | Gujarat Titans | 1 | 13 | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | 21-05-2023 |
| 113* | 72 | Rajasthan Royals | 4 | 12 | Sawai Mansingh Stadium | 06-04-2024 |
The Remarkable 2016 Season
The 2016 IPL season stands out as Kohli’s most extraordinary in the tournament’s history. He scored four centuries in a single season – a record that still stands. During this season, he amassed a total of 973 runs at an average of over 80, setting the record for most runs in an IPL season.
His centuries that year came in a span of just 25 days, showing his incredible form and consistency. Three of these hundreds were scored at his home ground, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, where the crowd witnessed batting masterclasses from their captain.
Recent IPL Centuries
After a gap of almost three years without an IPL century, Kohli returned to form in 2023 with back-to-back hundreds against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans. His most recent IPL century came in 2024 against Rajasthan Royals, where he scored 113* off 72 balls, showing he still has the appetite for big scores in the shortest format.
What makes Kohli’s IPL centuries special:
- Balance between aggression and control – He maintains a high strike rate without compromising his technique
- Adaptability – He can pace his innings according to match situations
- Shot selection – He relies more on classic cricket shots than unorthodox hits
- Fitness level – His running between wickets adds pressure on fielders and gets him extra runs
- Mental strength – He performs well under the pressure of franchise cricket
FAQs About Virat Kohli’s Centuries
- How many total centuries has Virat Kohli scored in international cricket?
Virat Kohli has scored 82 international centuries across all formats – 30 in Tests, 51 in ODIs, and 1 in T20Is. When combined with his 8 IPL centuries, his total rises to 90 professional centuries in top-level cricket.
- Who has more centuries: Virat Kohli or Sachin Tendulkar?
Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for most international centuries with 100 (51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs). Kohli currently has 82 international centuries and is the only active player with a realistic chance of breaking Tendulkar’s record.
- Which is Virat Kohli’s favorite venue for scoring centuries?
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore appears to be Kohli’s favorite venue for scoring centuries. He has scored multiple hundreds there, both in international cricket and the IPL. This is also his home ground in the IPL with Royal Challengers Bangalore.
- What is Kohli’s conversion rate from fifties to centuries?
Kohli has scored 82 international centuries and 142 fifties, giving him a conversion rate of approximately 37% from fifty to a hundred. This is one of the highest conversion rates among top batsmen, showing his ability to convert starts into big scores.
- Against which team has Kohli scored the most centuries?
Kohli has scored the most international centuries against Australia and Sri Lanka. His aggressive mindset seems to match well against the Australian bowling attack, while he has consistently performed well against Sri Lankan bowlers throughout his career.
- What was Kohli’s longest century drought?
Kohli’s longest period without scoring a century was from November 2019 to September 2022, lasting around 1,020 days. During this period, he went through a significant form slump before returning to his century-scoring ways.
- Has Kohli scored a century in ICC tournament finals?
Yes, Kohli has scored centuries in ICC tournament finals. His most recent was an unbeaten 100 against Pakistan in the 2025 Champions Trophy final, helping India chase down the target with ease and secure the trophy.
- What is special about Kohli’s ODI centuries?
A remarkable aspect of Kohli’s ODI centuries is that a large percentage of them have come in successful run chases. His ability to pace innings while chasing targets has earned him the nickname “Chase Master.” India has won a high percentage of matches when Kohli scores a century.
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Conclusion: Virat Kohli Has 82 International Centuries Across All Formats
Virat Kohli’s century-making journey stands as a testament to his extraordinary skill, unwavering dedication, and mental fortitude. With 82 international centuries (30 in Tests, 51 in ODIs, and 1 in T20I) and 8 in the IPL, he has firmly established himself among cricket’s all-time elite batsmen.
What makes Kohli’s achievement even more impressive is the era in which he has played. In a time when cricket has evolved dramatically with three distinct formats demanding different skills and approaches, Kohli has managed to excel across all versions of the game. His ability to switch between the patient accumulation required in Tests and the aggressive intent needed in limited-overs cricket showcases his adaptability and complete batting technique.
Beyond the numbers, it’s the quality and context of his centuries that elevate his status. Many of his hundreds have:
- Come in challenging overseas conditions
- Helped India chase down difficult targets
- Been scored under immense pressure
- Led directly to team victories
The detailed breakdown of his centuries by years reveals his evolution as a batsman. From his early days as a promising talent to his peak years of domination and through his temporary struggles to his resurgence, Kohli’s journey reflects the natural cycles of a sporting career. His ability to overcome the lean period of 2020-2021 and return to century-scoring form demonstrates his resilience and problem-solving ability.
As Kohli continues his cricketing journey, fans worldwide anticipate more centuries from this modern great. His recent form suggests he still has the hunger and ability to add to his impressive tally. While Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 international centuries once seemed untouchable, Kohli’s continued excellence has made it a realistic target.
Regardless of whether he breaks that record, Kohli’s century-making legacy is already secure. His combination of classical technique, modern aggression, fitness standards, and mental strength has redefined batting excellence for a new generation of cricketers. For cricket enthusiasts, each Kohli century is not just a statistic but an exhibition of batting artistry that will be remembered long after his playing days are over.
The journey continues for Virat Kohli, and with every new century, he further cements his place in cricket’s hall of fame.
