After waiting 12 agonizing innings to reach the milestone, Sachin Tendulkar became the first player in history to score 100 international centuries — an achievement that is statistically the most distant landmark from any other player in cricket.
Sachin Tendulkar had reached 99 international centuries in December 2011. What followed was one of cricket's most prolonged milestone pursuits — 12 innings across four months in which Tendulkar came frustratingly close but could not convert. The Indian media covered each innings with the intensity of a national examination.
Tendulkar came to the crease against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup having averaged 32 in his previous 12 innings. The pressure was immense — fans, teammates, and the media had built the wait into a national obsession. Bangladesh chose to field. Tendulkar opened the batting.
He reached his hundred off 147 balls — measured, deliberate, the complete opposite of his most explosive innings. When the century came — a flicked single off Shafiul Islam — Tendulkar raised his bat, pointed to the sky (his tribute to his late father), and was engulfed by teammates.
The Indian dressing room erupted. The entire Bangladesh ground — despite it being an away match — gave him a standing ovation. In India, streets emptied as people gathered around television sets. MS Dhoni hugged him at the end of the innings. Tendulkar wept.
The 100th century came in his 452nd international innings across Tests and ODIs. The second-most international centuries by any player is Ricky Ponting with 71 — Tendulkar had 29 more than any other human being.
The 12-innings wait from 99 to 100 — cricket's most watched milestone pursuit
The single off Shafiul Islam — the shot that ended 12 innings of national anxiety
Sachin pointing to the sky — tribute to his father, who died before seeing his son's greatest heights
December 2011
Tendulkar reaches 99 international centuries — the wait begins
January-February 2012
11 consecutive innings without a century — unprecedented pressure
March 16, 2012
100th century vs Bangladesh — the milestone finally reached
India won the match by 5 wickets. Tendulkar played his final Test series in November 2013 at his home ground Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, retiring after 24 years of international cricket.
The most anticipated individual milestone in cricket history, made more extraordinary by the weight of expectation and the dignity with which Tendulkar carried it. No player has come within 30 centuries of his total.
100 international centuries is cricket's most remote individual record — farther from second place than any other batting landmark. It stands as testimony to longevity, consistency, and the weight of expectation that Tendulkar carried for two decades.
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