Highest Individual Scores in ODI World Cup History

The ODI Cricket World Cup has produced some of the greatest individual batting performances in cricket history. A huge score on the World Cup stage requires more than batting skill. Players must handle elite bowling attacks, changing conditions and the pressure of performing in matches that can define an entire career.

From Glenn Turner’s 171 not out in the inaugural tournament to Glenn Maxwell‘s extraordinary unbeaten 201 while chasing in 2023, the record list covers several generations of ODI batting. Chris Gayle became the first batter to score a World Cup double century in 2015, only for Martin Guptill to go even bigger later in the same tournament.

Guptill’s unbeaten 237 against West Indies remains the highest individual score in men’s ODI World Cup history through the latest completed tournament. His innings came in a quarter-final, adding even more significance to an already remarkable record.

Highest Individual Scores in ODI World Cup History

The table below lists the highest individual innings in men’s ICC ODI Cricket World Cup history from 1975 through the 2023 edition.

These innings were produced in very different situations. Some came against weaker bowling attacks in group games, while Guptill and Maxwell produced their record scores under enormous pressure. Kapil Dev’s 175 not out was effectively a rescue mission, while Ganguly’s 183 powered India to a huge total against defending champions Sri Lanka.

Martin Guptill – 237* vs West Indies

Martin Guptill holds the record for the highest individual score in ODI World Cup history.

The New Zealand opener smashed an unbeaten 237 from 163 balls against West Indies in the 2015 World Cup quarter-final at Wellington.

Guptill started relatively carefully before accelerating dramatically. Once he passed his century, the West Indies bowlers struggled to control him. He struck 24 fours and 11 sixes, giving him 35 boundaries in the innings.

His 237 not out broke Chris Gayle’s World Cup record of 215, which had been set less than a month earlier.

Guptill’s innings helped New Zealand reach 393/6. West Indies were then bowled out for 250, giving New Zealand a 143-run victory and a place in the semi-finals.

The knockout setting makes Guptill’s innings even more significant. No other batter has scored a double century in a men’s World Cup knockout match.

Chris Gayle – 215 vs Zimbabwe

Chris Gayle became the first batter to score a double century in men’s World Cup history when he made 215 against Zimbabwe in Canberra in 2015.

The West Indies opener reached the landmark from 138 balls and eventually finished with 215 from 147 deliveries.

Gayle hit 10 fours and 16 sixes in a brutal display of power hitting.

He also shared a record 372-run partnership with Marlon Samuels, who finished unbeaten on 133. At the time, it was the highest partnership for any wicket in ODI history.

West Indies posted 372/2 before defeating Zimbabwe by 73 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Gayle’s record survived for only 25 days. Guptill went past his 215 during New Zealand’s quarter-final against West Indies.

Even so, Gayle will always hold a special place in World Cup history as the first man to reach 200 in the tournament.

Glenn Maxwell – 201* vs Afghanistan

Glenn Maxwell’s unbeaten 201 against Afghanistan in Mumbai in 2023 is one of the most extraordinary innings ever played in international cricket.

Unlike Guptill and Gayle, Maxwell scored his double century while chasing.

Australia were pursuing 292 and collapsed to 91/7. Afghanistan appeared certain to complete a famous victory.

Maxwell then changed the match almost single-handedly.

Battling severe cramps and struggling to move between the wickets, he continued attacking through boundaries rather than relying on running. Pat Cummins provided support at the other end while Maxwell took control of the scoring.

Maxwell finished unbeaten on 201 from 128 balls, hitting 21 fours and 10 sixes.

Australia reached 293/7 and won by three wickets.

The innings made Maxwell the first Australian man to score an ODI double century. More importantly, it became the first double hundred scored while chasing in men’s ODI cricket and the highest individual score in the second innings of an ODI.

Gary Kirsten – 188* vs UAE

Gary Kirsten held the World Cup individual scoring record for almost two decades.

The South African opener scored an unbeaten 188 from 159 deliveries against the United Arab Emirates in Rawalpindi during the 1996 World Cup.

Kirsten batted through South Africa’s entire innings and struck 13 fours and four sixes.

His performance helped South Africa reach 321/2.

UAE could manage only 152/8 in reply, leaving South Africa winners by 169 runs.

Kirsten’s record remained untouched through the 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011 tournaments.

It was finally broken in 2015 when Chris Gayle scored 215 against Zimbabwe.

Sourav Ganguly – 183 vs Sri Lanka

Sourav Ganguly holds the record for the highest individual score by an Indian batter in ODI World Cup history.

He scored 183 from 158 balls against Sri Lanka at Taunton during the 1999 World Cup.

India lost opener Sadagoppan Ramesh early, but Ganguly and Rahul Dravid then produced one of the greatest partnerships in World Cup history.

They added 318 runs for the second wicket.

Dravid scored 145, while Ganguly continued to attack and eventually reached 183 with 17 fours and seven sixes.

India finished on 373/6.

Sri Lanka, the defending World Cup champions, were bowled out for 216 as India completed a 157-run victory.

Ganguly’s 183 remains his highest score in ODI cricket and India’s highest individual score at a men’s World Cup.

Viv Richards – 181 vs Sri Lanka

Viv Richards produced one of the most dominant innings of the 1987 World Cup when he scored 181 against Sri Lanka in Karachi.

The West Indies captain made his runs from only 125 balls, an exceptional scoring rate for that era.

Richards shared a major partnership with Desmond Haynes, who also scored a century.

West Indies reached 360/4, which was then a massive ODI total.

Sri Lanka finished on 169/4 from their 50 overs, giving West Indies a 191-run victory.

Richards’ 181 remained among the highest World Cup scores for decades and still stands as one of the greatest examples of aggressive batting before the modern T20-influenced era.

Kapil Dev’s Historic 175* in 1983

Kapil Dev’s unbeaten 175 against Zimbabwe deserves special mention because of the situation in which he produced it.

India collapsed to 9/4 and then 17/5 at Tunbridge Wells.

A defeat could have seriously damaged India’s chances of progressing in the tournament.

Kapil responded with 175 not out from 138 deliveries, hitting 16 fours and six sixes.

He received crucial support from the lower order, particularly Syed Kirmani, and carried India to 266/8.

Zimbabwe reached 235 in reply, giving India a 31-run victory.

Kapil’s innings was the highest individual ODI score in the world at the time. India went on to win the 1983 World Cup, making the innings one of the most important performances in the country’s cricket history.

Highest Individual Score in an ODI World Cup Final

Adam Gilchrist holds the record for the highest individual score in a men’s ODI World Cup final.

The Australian wicketkeeper-opener scored 149 from 104 balls against Sri Lanka in Bridgetown during the 2007 final.

Gilchrist attacked from the start and hit 13 fours and eight sixes.

His century helped Australia reach 281/4 from 38 overs in a rain-reduced match.

Sri Lanka finished on 215/8 from 36 overs, and Australia won by 53 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

The victory gave Australia a third consecutive World Cup title.

Gilchrist moved past Ricky Ponting’s previous final record. Ponting had scored an unbeaten 140 against India in Johannesburg during the 2003 final.

Other famous World Cup final centuries include Viv Richards’ unbeaten 138 against England in 1979, Aravinda de Silva’s unbeaten 107 against Australia in 1996 and Clive Lloyd’s 102 against Australia in the inaugural 1975 final.

Highest Individual Score by an Indian Batter in the World Cup

Sourav Ganguly’s 183 against Sri Lanka in 1999 remains the highest individual score by an Indian batter in men’s ODI World Cup history.

Kapil Dev is second with his famous unbeaten 175 against Zimbabwe in 1983.

Virender Sehwag also scored 175, reaching that total against Bangladesh in the opening match of the 2011 tournament.

India’s other major World Cup innings include Sachin Tendulkar‘s 152 against Namibia in 2003, Rohit Sharma’s 140 against Pakistan in 2019 and several other hundreds from India’s powerful top-order batters.

Ganguly’s record has survived despite India producing several of the leading World Cup run-scorers.

Highest Individual Score by a Pakistani Batter in the World Cup

Imran Nazir holds the record for the highest individual score by a Pakistan batter in men’s ODI World Cup history.

He scored 160 against Zimbabwe at Kingston during the 2007 tournament.

Nazir faced around 120 deliveries and struck 14 fours and eight sixes.

The innings came in an emotional match for Pakistan after the death of coach Bob Woolmer and after the team had already been eliminated from the tournament.

Pakistan scored 349 before dismissing Zimbabwe for 99 and winning comfortably.

Nazir’s 160 remains the benchmark for Pakistan despite the country producing legendary World Cup batters such as Javed Miandad, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Saeed Anwar and Babar Azam.

Double Hundreds in ODI World Cup History

Only three double centuries have been scored in men’s ODI World Cup history.

Chris Gayle was the first to achieve the feat. His 215 against Zimbabwe in 2015 ended decades in which no batter had reached 200 in a World Cup.

Martin Guptill followed only weeks later and raised the record dramatically to 237 not out.

The next double century did not arrive until 2023.

Maxwell’s 201 not out was completely different because it came in a chase. Australia were seven wickets down and appeared certain to lose before Maxwell produced one of cricket’s greatest recovery innings.

No Indian or Pakistani batter has scored a double century in a men’s ODI World Cup.

How the World Cup Highest Score Record Has Evolved

World Cup batting records have changed dramatically since the first tournament in 1975.

Glenn Turner set an early standard when he scored an unbeaten 171 against East Africa in the inaugural edition.

Kapil Dev moved the record to 175 not out in 1983.

Viv Richards then scored 181 in 1987 before Gary Kirsten raised the mark to 188 not out in 1996.

Kirsten’s record survived for 19 years.

The 2015 World Cup completely changed the landscape.

Gayle became the first batter to pass 200 with his 215 against Zimbabwe. Guptill then went even further with 237 not out against West Indies.

Maxwell joined the double-century club in 2023, but even his remarkable 201 was still 36 runs short of Guptill’s record.

The progression reflects the evolution of ODI batting. Better bats, fielding restrictions, improved fitness and the influence of T20 cricket have allowed modern players to attack for longer periods.

Highest Individual Scores in ODI World Cup

A huge individual innings can change an entire World Cup campaign.

Guptill’s 237 carried New Zealand into the 2015 semi-final. Kapil’s 175 rescued India from a possible group-stage defeat before they went on to become champions.

Maxwell’s 201 secured Australia’s place in the 2023 semi-finals. Australia eventually won the tournament.

Large individual scores also allow teams to dominate matches tactically. When one batter occupies the crease for 40 or 50 overs while scoring rapidly, opposing captains struggle to control both wickets and the run rate.

That is why the highest World Cup scores are remembered for more than their numbers. Many were innings that changed matches, tournament campaigns and, in some cases, cricket history.

Conclusion

Martin Guptill holds the record for the highest individual score in ODI World Cup history with an unbeaten 237 against West Indies in the 2015 quarter-final.

Chris Gayle is second with 215 against Zimbabwe, while Glenn Maxwell’s remarkable unbeaten 201 against Afghanistan in 2023 ranks third. They are the only three batters to score double centuries in a men’s ODI World Cup.

Gary Kirsten’s 188 not out and Sourav Ganguly’s 183 complete the top five.

Ganguly’s 183 remains the highest World Cup score by an Indian batter, while Imran Nazir leads Pakistan with 160. In World Cup finals, Adam Gilchrist owns the record with his 149 against Sri Lanka in 2007.

From Turner’s 171 not out in 1975 to Maxwell’s miraculous 201 in 2023, the tournament’s greatest innings show how batting has evolved while the pressure of the World Cup remains unchanged.

FAQs

Who has the highest individual score in ODI World Cup history?

Martin Guptill holds the record with an unbeaten 237 for New Zealand against West Indies in the 2015 World Cup quarter-final in Wellington.

How many double centuries have been scored in ODI World Cups?

Three double centuries have been scored in men’s ODI World Cups: Martin Guptill’s 237*, Chris Gayle’s 215 and Glenn Maxwell’s 201*.

What is the highest World Cup score by an Indian batter?

Sourav Ganguly holds India’s record with 183 against Sri Lanka at Taunton during the 1999 World Cup.

What is the highest World Cup score by a Pakistani batter?

Imran Nazir holds Pakistan’s record with 160 against Zimbabwe during the 2007 World Cup.

What is the highest individual score in an ODI World Cup final?

Adam Gilchrist holds the men’s World Cup final record with 149 from 104 balls for Australia against Sri Lanka in 2007.

Who scored the first double century in ODI World Cup history?

Chris Gayle became the first batter to score a men’s World Cup double century when he made 215 against Zimbabwe in Canberra in 2015.