The ICC ODI World Cup is a highly respected cricket tournament that happens every four years. Every cricketer dreams of playing in it and winning it for their country. Batsmen aim to score a lot of runs, bowlers want to take plenty of wickets, and the team captain wants to lead their team to victory. In the 2023 ODI World Cup, Rohit Sharma achieved this dream and became the third Indian captain to score a century in the tournament. Let’s find out who the Indian captains are that have achieved this remarkable feat.
List of Indian Captains with ODI World Cup Centuries:
Just three Indian captains have scored centuries in the ODI World Cup. Kapil Dev was the first, followed by Sourav Ganguly, and most recently, Rohit Sharma.
- Kapil Dev
Kapil Dev, the captain who led India to victory in the 1983 ODI World Cup, was the first Indian captain to score a century in the tournament. His remarkable century came when India was in deep trouble, at just 9 runs for the loss of four wickets. Kapil Dev’s unbeaten 175 in that crucial match against Zimbabwe helped India reach a total of 266 runs. He accomplished this feat in just 138 balls, smashing 16 fours and six sixes.
2. Sourav Ganguly
Sourav Ganguly, another Indian captain, achieved the incredible feat of scoring three centuries in the 2003 ODI World Cup. His remarkable centuries came in three matches:
112 runs against Namibia
117 runs against Kenya
111 runs against Kenya (Semi-finals)
These centuries are even more special because Ganguly remained not out in all three innings. His innings of 111 runs against Kenya in the semi-finals of the 2003 ODI World Cup is especially noteworthy. In that match, India won the toss and chose to bat first. Ganguly’s performance on a challenging pitch included five fours and five sixes, making it one of his finest innings.
3. Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma earned his rank by scoring a century against Afghanistan in the 2023 ODI World Cup. This was a significant achievement, as it had been 20 years since an Indian captain had scored a century in the ODI World Cup. Rohit’s outstanding performance saw him make 131 runs in just 84 balls while chasing a target of 273 runs. He dominated the Afghan bowlers, hitting a total of 21 boundaries, including 16 fours and five sixes.