Youngest Cricketers To Score A Century In ODI Cricket: Representing their country and scoring a ton in the One-Day International (ODI) format is always a top deal to crack for a majority of the international cricketers out there. While a lot of cricketers spend years pulling off this starry dream, a few iconic cricketers have had the excellence and fortune of bringing it to fruition in the early phase of their cricketing career.
In this article, we will take a look at the top five youngest cricketers who have scored a century in the ODI format for their team.
- Shahid Afridi: 16 Years, 217 Days
Well, regardless of all the controversies that this legendary former Pakistani international cricketer has been a part of, if you’re a cricket fan, you cannot just deny the kind of dominating aura Shahid Afridi held back in the late 90s era. Shahid Afridi made his roaring ODI debut against Sri Lanka at Nairobi’s Gymkhana Club on 4th October 1996.
Although back then Shahid Afridi was one of the youngest players in Pakistan’s squad at an age of 16 years and 217 days, he didn’t hesitate even a bit while tackling Sri Lanka’s animating bowling attack and ended up scoring a phenomenal 102* runs for his team. You’d be a bit surprised to know that Afridi’s stellar record of being the youngest cricketer to smash a ton in the ODI cricket format is still unbeaten after all these years.
- Usman Ghani: 17 Years, 242 Days
At the second spot in our list of the top five youngest cricketers who have scored a century in the ODI format for their team, we have an iconic international cricketer and right-handed opening batsman of the Afghan national cricket team, Usman Ghani.
Usman Ghani made his One-Day International (ODI) debut against Zimbabwe on 20th July 2014 and took over the Zimbabwean bowling attack with a storm with his calm demeanour on the cricket field. Usman Ghani ended up delivering an impressive innings of 102* runs, which proved to be extremely crucial in Afghanistan’s victory against Zimbabwe by a huge margin of 100 runs. Usman Ghani instantly got enormous attention for being the second-youngest cricketer to score a century in the ODI format at the age of 17 years, 242 days.
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- Imran Nazir, 18 Years, 121 Days
Often hailed as one of the greatest batsmen of all time that Pakistan has ever introduced into international cricket, Imran Nazir is in the third spot in our list of the top five youngest cricketers who have scored a century in the ODI format for their team.
The 18-year-old Pakistan’s iconic right-handed batsman faced a deadly Zimbabwean bowling attack in the Pakistan vs Zimbabwe ODI match on 15 April 2000 and shocked the crowd by smashing a ton in his debut ODI match. Imran Nazir scored a phenomenal total of 105* runs in his debut ODI match against Zimbabwe and solidified his place as the third-youngest cricketer in the world to score a ton in the ODI format.
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- Saleem Elahi, Pakistan, 18 Years, 312 Days
Next, at the fourth spot in our list of top five youngest cricketers who have scored a century in the ODI format for their team, we have another legendary former international cricketer from Pakistan, Saleem Elahi, who represented Pakistan in a total of 48 ODIs between 1995 and 2004.
In his decade-long ODI career with the Pakistan side, Saleem Elahi pulled off numerous feats and led his team to a streak of victories. Saleem Elahi made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka on 29 September 1995, delivered a dominant inning of 102* runs and became the second-youngest Pakistani cricketer and the fourth-youngest international cricketer in the world to smash a ton in the ODI format at the age of 18 years and 312 days.
- Saiteja Reddy Mukkamalla, United States, 18 Years, 355 Days
American professional international cricketer Saiteja Reddy Mukkamalla, who plays for the United States national cricket team and represents Texas Super Kings at Major League Cricket (MLC), is at the fifth spot on our list of the top five youngest cricketers who have scored a century in the ODI format for their team.
Saiteja made his One-Day International (ODI) debut for the United States national team against Scotland in 2022 and scored a brilliant total of 120* runs. At the age of 18 years and 355 days, Saiteja is hailed as the fifth-youngest cricketer in the world to smash a ton in the ODI format.
