Most Hundreds In Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Bhargav Dixit

Virat Kohli lauds Steven Smith. [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X]Virat Kohli lauds Steven Smith. [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X]

Unlike his Indian counterparts, veteran Australia batter Steven Smith has effectively put behind a batting rut by scoring two centuries in the ongoing five-match series against India. Third-highest run-scorer in a series being played in bowling-friendly conditions, Smith is one of the two batters to cross the 100-run mark twice.

Smith’s latest century, his 34th in the format, 21st at No. 4, 18th at home, 11th against India, seventh under Pat Cummins, fifth at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and second this year, made him the first batter to register the feat 10 times in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Sachin Tendulkar (9)

Highest run-scorer in the BGT, Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar might remain so for the years to come on the back of amassing 3,262 runs at an average of 56.24 across 65 innings. Having witnessed former India captain Virat Kohli equaling his nine centuries last month, Tendulkar has now seen Smith going past both of them.

Been participating in the competition since its inception in 1996, Tendulkar scored his first century in Chennai two years later. Tendulkar, who soon followed it with another three-figure score in Bengaluru, made it a regular affair since then. All in all, he scored dual tons in Chennai, Bengaluru and Sydney (including a much-admired 241*) out of a total of five home and four away knocks.

Virat Kohli (9)

Once expected to become the first batter to have 10 BGT hundreds to his name, Kohli hasn’t been able to do the same. Sixth-highest run-scorer in this rivalry, Kohli’s average of 46.54 is the second-worst among batters who have scored four or more BGT hundreds.

Currently playing his seventh Test series against the Aussies, Kohli had announced himself in the format with a gritty century in a losing cause at the Adelaide Oval nearly 13 years ago. In what was the beginning of his tryst with the city and the country, seven out of his nine hundreds have come away from home (three in Adelaide, two in Perth and one each in Melbourne and Sydney).

Steven Smith (10)

Smith’s latest knock allowed him to surpass the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara, Michael Clarke, Kohli and Rahul Dravid to become the fourth-highest run-scorer in the BGT. Only batter to average more than 60 (min. 500 runs), Smith has developed quite a liking in terms of belting the Indians bowlers over the years.

Smith, whose 2,151 runs have come at an average of 61.45, has achieved these mind-bowling numbers in just his fifth series. For the unversed, Smith scored four centuries in his first home BGT series only to follow it with three in his first away series. Having failed to achieve this milestone in India last year, his remaining three centuries have come at home.