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Top Cricketers To Have Hit A Century On Their Birthday

image-lomdii7bKohli equalled Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI ton in Kolkata (AP Photo)

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 seven players have been able to do this so far and three of them are Indians. 

Virat Kohli recently became the seventh player to achieve this feat. This turned out to be more special as it wasn't just a normal hundred but a World Cup hundred and that too against one of the top sides.

Let us look at all the seven players who have scored a hundred on their birthday:


Vinod Kambli - 100* vs England 

(18th January 1993)

image-lolx0jx2Vinod Kambli (Twitter)

Vinod Kambli was the first-ever cricketer to score a century on his birthday. It was one of the most thrilling games between India and England, where India put up a total of 223 in 48 overs with contributions from Vinod Kambli and Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 100* and 82 respectively. England while chasing lost six wickets but with six runs needed in the last over they managed to win the game. However, Kambli on his 21st birthday scored a ton which must be one of his favourite cricketing memories. 


Sachin Tendulkar - 134 vs Australia

(24th April 1998)

image-lolx2j09Sachin Tendulkar (Twitter)

Sachin Tendulkar and his love affair with the Australian team helped him celebrate his birthday with a century. In the final of the Coca-Cola Cup 1998, Australia posted a total of 272 in their 50 overs. However, the Indian team with the help of Sachin's 134 on his 25th birthday and Mohammad Azharuddin's 58, chased the total with nine balls remaining. This was Sachin's second successive century helping India win the Coca-Cola Cup and became the player of the match and the tournament as well.


Sanath Jayasuriya - 130 vs Bangladesh

(30th June 2008)

image-lolx3sfySanath Jayasuriya (Twitter)

The southpaw from Sri Lanka, Sanath Jayasuriya became the third batter to score a century on his birthday. In the Super 4s clash of the Asia Cup 2008, against the Bangladesh team, Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara opened the innings while batting first. With the first wicket partnership of 201 runs, Jayasuriya got out after scoring 130 on his 39th birthday. It was an easy win for the Lankans as they bowled out Bangladesh for just 174, winning the game by 158 runs.


Ross Taylor - 131* vs Pakistan

(8th March 2011)

image-lolx4e31Ross Taylor (Twitter)

The middle-order Kiwi batter, Ross Taylor, in the World Cup 2011 clash against Pakistan in Sri Lanka smashed an unbeaten 131 and helped the Blackcaps reach a total of 302. On the other hand, the Pakistan team could not get closer to the target and were bowled out for 192 runs with the Kiwis winning the game by 110 runs. Taylor celebrated his 27th birthday with a blistering ton and a win over the Pakistan team in the World Cup 2011.


Tom Latham - 140* vs Netherlands

(2nd April 2022)

image-lolx59cvTom Latham (Twitter)

The stand-in captain of the New Zealand team, Tom Latham in 2022 scored a century on his birthday while playing an ODI against the Netherlands team. Where the Blackcaps lost the five wickets in the first ten overs, Tom Latham was holding one end and played till the end. From 32-5, Latham's patient knock helped the Kiwis reach a total of 269 where he smashed 140 and celebrated his 30th birthday with a win by 118 runs over the Dutch.


Mitchell Marsh - 121 vs Pakistan

(20th October 2023)

image-lomdbw5qMarsh scored a century vs PAK in WC 2023 (AP Photo)

Mitchell Marsh did not have a great start in the ongoing World Cup 2023, but on his birthday, he had planned something special for himself. David Warner and Mitch added 295 runs for the first wicket partnership against the Pakistan team and the right-hander with his blistering knock of 121 off 108 deliveries became the second batter to score a hundred in the World Cup on his birthday. What could have been a better gift than this for Mitch who turned 32?


Virat Kohli - 101* vs South Africa

(5th November 2023)

image-lomd97x1Virat Kohli after his 49th ODI hundred (AP Photo)

Virat Kohli becomes the seventh batter to hit a hundred on his birthday and third when it comes to hitting a World Cup hundred on his birthday after Ross Taylor and Mitchell Marsh. In the clash against South Africa, Kohli played a calm and composed knock of 101 not out off 121 deliveries and helped India post a above par score of 327, which could have been low in front of the Proteas in-form batters. But the bowlers did the rest bowling out the South African team for just 83 winning the game by 243 runs. He enjoyed his 35th birthday registering his 49th ODI century equalling the record of the great Sachin Tendulkar.