List of International Centuries by Babar Azam

Babar Azam has been Pakistan’s batting cornerstone for a decade, and his collection of international centuries places him among the finest batters of his generation. As of November 2026, the former Pakistan captain has scored 32 international hundreds: nine in Tests, 20 in ODIs and three in T20Is. He has also passed 16,000 international runs, becoming only the fifth Pakistan batter to reach that landmark, after Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf and Javed Miandad.

What sets Babar apart is his mastery of all three formats. While many modern batters specialise, Babar has maintained elite standards in Tests, one-dayers and T20 internationals at the same time. His cover drive is widely regarded as the most beautiful shot in contemporary cricket, but it is his consistency, rather than his elegance, that built his century count. He reached the 16,000-run mark during Pakistan’s tri-series ODI against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi on 18 October 2026, finishing that match on 16,038 international runs.

Babar Azam International Centuries by Format

Format	Centuries	Highest Score	First Century
Tests	9	196 vs Australia, Karachi, 2022	127 not out vs New Zealand, Dubai, 2018
ODIs	20	158 vs England, Edgbaston, 2021	120 vs West Indies, Sharjah, 2016
T20Is	3	122 vs South Africa, Centurion, 2021	122 vs South Africa, Centurion, 2021
Total	32	196	2016

The split tells the story of a complete batter. The 20 ODI centuries put him level with Saeed Anwar’s Pakistan record for the most hundreds in the format; the next ODI century will give Babar the record outright. His nine Test centuries and three T20I centuries, the most by any Pakistan batter in T20Is, show a game that has travelled across conditions and formats rather than depending on one.

Babar Azam ODI Centuries: From Sharjah to the Pakistan Record

Babar announced himself in one-day cricket in extraordinary fashion. His first three ODI centuries came in consecutive matches against the West Indies in the United Arab Emirates in September and October 2016: 120 at Sharjah, 123 at Sharjah again, and 117 at Abu Dhabi. He became only the third Pakistan batter, after Zaheer Abbas and Saeed Anwar, to score three consecutive ODI hundreds, and his 360 runs in that three-match series set a record for a three-match ODI series.

In ODIs, Babar has been Pakistan’s most reliable century-maker. His nineteen one-day hundreds before the latest update included a magnificent 158 against England at Edgbaston in July 2021, an innings that showcased his full range against high-quality pace bowling. He reached 5,000 ODI runs faster than almost anyone in history, and his hundreds have come against every major nation. Other landmark ODI centuries include 114 and 105 not out in consecutive matches against Australia at Lahore in March and April 2022, both in winning chases, and 151 against Nepal at Multan in August 2023, which opened the Asia Cup in style.

His 20th ODI century, 102 not out against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi on 14 November 2025, drew him level with Anwar. It also ended a long wait: Babar scored eight international hundreds in 2022 alone, but only four in the four calendar years that followed, and he had scored no international hundred in 2026 up to November, with a best of 88. That drought, rather than any collapse in his overall run-scoring, is the gap his critics keep pointing to.

Memorable Babar Azam Test Hundreds and the Karachi 196

Babar’s Test centuries include a fighting 196 against Australia at Karachi in March 2022, one of the great fourth-innings efforts in recent memory. Batting for more than ten hours to save the match, he showed a defensive technique and concentration that silenced doubts about his red-ball credentials. It remains the highest score by a captain in the fourth innings of a Test.

His first Test hundred came against New Zealand in Dubai in 2018, when he made 127 not out, and his full list of nine Test centuries shows how widely he has scored them: 104 against Australia at the Gabba in 2019, 102 not out and 100 not out against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi and Karachi in December 2019, 143 against Bangladesh at Rawalpindi in 2020, 119 against Sri Lanka at Galle in 2022, 136 against England at Rawalpindi in 2022, and 161 against New Zealand at Karachi in 2022. His away centuries have come in Australia and Sri Lanka, and his ability to adapt to seaming conditions and bouncy pitches marks him as a complete Test batter.

Babar Azam T20I Centuries: The Centurion Classic and Two Unbeaten Tons

In the shortest format, Babar’s 122 against South Africa at Centurion in April 2021 remains Pakistan’s highest individual T20I score. Chasing 204, he anchored the innings with a masterclass in pacing a run chase, reaching his hundred from 49 balls and finishing with 122 from 59 balls, including 15 fours and four sixes. It proved that classical batting still has a place in T20 cricket.

His other two T20I hundreds were both unbeaten and both in winning causes: 110 not out against England at Karachi in September 2022, when Pakistan chased 200 without losing a wicket, and 101 not out against New Zealand at Lahore in April 2023. His T20I hundreds are notable because he is often criticised for a modest strike rate in the format. Yet when the situation demands, he has shown he can score at well over ten runs per over while maintaining his shape and composure.

Babar Azam Records, Rankings and Milestones

Babar held the number one ICC ODI batting ranking for an extended period, the first Pakistani to do so in the modern era. He is among the quickest ever to 20 ODI centuries in terms of innings played. In terms of consistency, his ODI average has hovered near the mid-50s for much of his career, extraordinary by any standard.

Across formats, his record as of October 2026 reads 4,771 runs in 66 Tests, 6,671 runs in 144 ODIs and 4,596 runs in 145 T20Is, with 32 centuries and 111 half-centuries. He was named the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year for 2022, a year in which he scored 2,598 runs across formats, and he captained the ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year in 2021 and 2022.

Babar Azam Captaincy Years and Life After the Captaincy

Babar captained Pakistan across formats during a turbulent period, leading the team to the T20 World Cup semi-final in 2021 and the final in 2022. While the captaincy brought scrutiny, his personal batting rarely suffered, and several of his finest hundreds came while carrying the extra responsibility. All three of his T20I centuries were scored as captain.

He eventually stepped down to focus on his batting, a decision that has allowed him to return to piling up runs without the distractions of leadership. His century rate since relinquishing the captaincy has slowed, but his overall run-scoring has kept him at the heart of Pakistan’s batting, and the 16,000-run milestone in October 2026 underlined his longevity.

Babar Azam vs Contemporaries: Kohli, Smith, Williamson and Root

Babar is invariably compared with Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, Joe Root and Rohit Sharma, the other members of modern cricket’s elite batting group. While his Test numbers do not yet match Smith or Root, his white-ball record, particularly in ODIs, stands with anyone in the world.

What distinguishes Babar is his calm temperament. He rarely plays a rash shot, rarely gets involved in controversy, and lets his bat do the talking. In an era of aggressive batting, his classical approach has been both his identity and his strength. His next milestone is clear: one more ODI hundred takes him past Saeed Anwar and gives him the Pakistan ODI century record outright.

FAQs About Babar Azam Centuries

How many international centuries does Babar Azam have?

Babar Azam has 32 international centuries as of November 2026: nine in Tests, 20 in ODIs and three in T20Is.

What is Babar Azam’s highest international score?

His highest Test score is 196 against Australia at Karachi in 2022, while his best ODI score is 158 against England at Edgbaston in 2021.

What is Pakistan’s highest individual T20I score?

Babar Azam’s 122 against South Africa at Centurion in 2021 is Pakistan’s highest individual score in T20 internationals.

How many ODI centuries does Babar Azam have?

Babar Azam has 20 ODI centuries, level with Saeed Anwar’s Pakistan record. His 20th came against Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi in November 2025.

Was Babar Azam ever ranked number one in ODIs?

Yes. Babar Azam held the number one spot in the ICC ODI batting rankings for an extended period, a first for Pakistan in the modern era.

Did Babar Azam captain Pakistan?

Yes. Babar captained Pakistan across formats, leading the team to the T20 World Cup semi-final in 2021 and the final in 2022, before stepping down to focus on batting.