New Zealand’s young batting sensation, Rachin Ravindra, has once again stamped his authority on the grand stage of international cricket. The 25-year-old delivered a scintillating century in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy semi-final against South Africa at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, leading New Zealand to a massive total and strengthening their bid for a place in the final against India.

A Century That Set the Stage for New Zealand’s Dominance

After Mitchell Santner won the toss and chose to bat first, Rachin Ravindra walked out with an aggressive mindset and delivered a match-defining knock. Scoring 108 runs off 101 balls, the left-handed batter provided New Zealand with a strong foundation to push their total beyond the 350-run mark.

Rachin was well-supported by Kane Williamson, who also registered a century, and the duo stitched together a remarkable 164-run partnership. Their combined effort helped the Kiwis establish dominance over the Proteas’ bowling attack.

This century marked Rachin's second of the tournament, having already scored a ton against Bangladesh in the group stages. What makes his feat even more special is that he missed New Zealand’s opening victory over Pakistan due to a freak facial injury.

Now, with five centuries in ICC tournaments, Rachin has entered elite company, further proving why he is one of the brightest talents in world cricket today.

Youngest Player to Score Five Centuries in ICC ODI Tournaments

With this record-breaking century, Rachin Ravindra has become the youngest player in history to hit five centuries in ICC ODI events at the age of 25 years and 107 days. He surpassed the previous record held by Sachin Tendulkar, who had three centuries at the same age.

The only other player to come close to this achievement before turning 26 was Sri Lanka’s Upul Tharanga, who scored two tons in the 2006 Champions Trophy in India.

Breaking Multiple ICC Records at a Young Age

Rachin Ravindra's incredible run in ICC tournaments has seen him climb up the statistical leaderboards. Here are some of the major milestones he has reached:

Most 50+ Scores in ICC Tournaments Before Turning 25

• Sachin Tendulkar – 9
• Rachin Ravindra – 7
• Jacques Kallis & Upul Tharanga – 6
• Steve Smith, Shubman Gill, Yuvraj Singh, AB de Villiers – 5

This statistic highlights Rachin's consistency on the big stage, as he has regularly converted his starts into impactful knocks.

Fastest to Five Centuries in ICC ODI Tournaments

Rachin Ravindra also holds the record for being the fastest player in history to reach five centuries in ICC tournaments, achieving the feat in just 13 innings. He broke Shikhar Dhawan’s record, who had taken 15 innings.

Fastest Players to Five Centuries in ICC ODI Tournaments

This rapid rise to the top underscores Rachin's ability to deliver big performances on the world stage.

A Rare Feat in ICC ODI Tournaments

Rachin is now only the second player in history to score multiple centuries in both the ODI World Cup and Champions Trophy debut campaigns, a record he shares with Shikhar Dhawan.

Dhawan achieved the feat in the 2013 Champions Trophy and the 2015 World Cup, while Rachin has done it in the 2023 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy.

Additionally, he has become the first player in history to score two centuries in ICC event matches hosted in Pakistan. While several players have scored centuries in Pakistan-hosted ICC tournaments, none managed two until Rachin.

Dominance in Asian Conditions

Despite not being from the continent, Rachin has made five centuries in ICC tournaments played in Asia, making him the most successful non-Asian batter in these conditions.

This places Rachin in the same bracket as Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, legends of the game who dominated in subcontinental conditions.

One of the Youngest to Score a Century in an ICC Knockout Match

With his ton against South Africa, Rachin has also become the third youngest player to score a century in a knockout match of an ICC ODI tournament.

The only players younger than him to achieve this feat are:

1. Jacques Kallis (23 years, 14 days) – 1998 Champions Trophy Semi-Final vs Sri Lanka
2. Avishka Gunawardene (23 years, 131 days) – 2000 Champions Trophy Pre-Quarter-Final vs West Indies

This achievement further cements Rachin’s reputation as a big-match player.

Climbing Up the All-Time ICC ODI Centuries List

With five ICC ODI centuries, Rachin Ravindra has now equaled the tally of legends like Joe Root, Herschelle Gibbs, Chris Gayle, and Tillakaratne Dilshan. He is now just behind some of the greatest ODI players in history:

Given his current form, Rachin is on track to surpass many of these names in the coming years.

A Versatile Batter in ICC Events

Another incredible stat about Rachin's centuries is that he has achieved them while batting in different positions.

• 2023 World Cup
  • Century vs England (No. 3)
  • Century vs Australia (No. 3)
  • Century vs Pakistan (Opener)
• 2025 Champions Trophy
  • Century vs Bangladesh (No. 4)
  • Century vs South Africa (Opener)

This makes Rachin the first player in history to score each of his first five ODI centuries in ICC tournaments. Previously, Mahmudullah of Bangladesh held the record, having scored his first four ODI centuries in ICC tournaments.

Conclusion

Rachin Ravindra’s incredible century in the 2025 Champions Trophy semi-final is a testament to his growing stature as one of the best young batters in world cricket. His records in ICC tournaments already place him among some of the greatest names in ODI history, and at just 25 years old, his journey has only just begun.

With New Zealand aiming for glory in the final against India, all eyes will once again be on Rachin Ravindra to see if he can add another chapter to his remarkable story.

How many centuries has Rachin Ravindra scored in ICC tournaments?

• He has scored five centuries in ICC ODI tournaments.

What record did Rachin break with his century in the 2025 Champions Trophy semi-final?

• He became the youngest player to score five ICC tournament centuries.

Who held the previous record for the fastest to five ICC centuries?

• Shikhar Dhawan, who took 15 innings, but Rachin broke it in 13 innings.

Has Rachin scored centuries in different batting positions?

• Yes, he has scored centuries at No. 3, No. 4, and as an opener.

How does Rachin compare to legends like Tendulkar and Kohli?

• He has equaled Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli’s five ICC tournament centuries in Asia.