In Indian cricket, there are a few incredibly talented players who shone brightly from a young age, like shooting stars lighting up the game. These players showed amazing skill and passion for cricket when they were very young. They carried the hopes of a nation crazy about cricket and turned their huge potential into great achievements, even though they were still quite young.
Let’s look back at five Indian cricketers who scored the most centuries in One Day International matches before they turned 25
5. Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill is a young cricketer who is not yet 25 years old but has already scored six centuries in one-day international matches, including a double century. He is considered one of India’s most promising batsmen because of his elegant style, ability to stay calm under pressure, and perfect timing. In a recent match against Bangladesh in the 2023 Asia Cup, he scored 121 runs, almost leading India to a win single-handedly. Gill’s success at such a young age suggests that he has a bright future ahead in cricket.
4. Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag was really good at cricket. He played in the opening position and hit the ball really hard. He started playing for India when he was 21 years old. By the time he was 25, he had scored six centuries in One Day International matches (ODIs), which are games that last a day. In 2002, when India was playing in New Zealand, he played really well and scored a lot of runs.
Sehwag liked playing against New Zealand. He scored four of his six ODI centuries against them before he turned 25. In total, he scored 15 centuries in ODI matches, including two in the World Cup. He even scored a double century in one match towards the end of his career.
ALSO READ: Top 5 Most 50+ Scores in ODIs by a Non-Opener
3. Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh, a left-handed batsman known for his daring style, scored eight amazing centuries in one-day international cricket before he turned 25 years old. One of his most famous innings was when he scored 139 runs against Australia in Sydney in 2003.
Fans loved Yuvraj Singh for his aggressive batting, especially in shorter matches. He became a favorite player because of his fearless approach to the game. In 2006, during India’s tour of Pakistan, he played exceptionally well, scoring 344 runs. This helped India win the series 4-1, and he was only 24 at the time.
Yuvraj was fantastic at hitting the ball for sixes and playing elegant shots through the covers. His eight centuries before turning 25 played a big role in India’s success in one-day internationals during the mid-2000s.
2. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli became really famous when he was young, following in the footsteps of Sachin Tendulkar. He started playing cricket when he was 19 and showed he was really good at it. He wanted to score lots of runs, and he did. People quickly noticed how talented and consistent he was. By the time he was 25, he had scored 20 centuries in one-day matches.
His centuries helped India win many matches, especially two memorable ones against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in 2012. Even after turning 25, he didn’t stop scoring big runs and winning matches for his team. Now, he’s close to breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most centuries in one-day cricket.
ALSO READ: Top 5 Most 50+ Scores in ODIs by a Non-Opener
1. Sachin Tendulkar
When Sachin Tendulkar was just 16 years old, he started playing cricket internationally. His first match was against Pakistan in 1989, during a tough test match in Karachi. A month later, he played his first One Day International (ODI) match against the same team, but unfortunately, he didn’t score any runs in that match.
But that was just the beginning of his amazing cricket career. Sachin went on to break almost every batting record there was. By the time he retired from international cricket, he had scored 49 centuries in ODIs, more than anyone else in history.
What’s even more impressive is that Sachin scored 21 of those centuries before he even turned 25! And he did it while playing against some of the best bowlers in the world like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Curtly Ambrose, Shaun Pollock, and Courtney Walsh. Because of his incredible talent and hard work, Sachin Tendulkar still holds the record for the most ODI centuries by any player before their 25th birthday.
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