What is a Maiden Century in Cricket? Complete Guide with Examples

Cricket is a game of milestones, and one of the most celebrated among them is a century. But when a player reaches this landmark for the very first time, it is called a maiden century. Fans, teammates, and even opponents recognize it as a special achievement because it marks the beginning of a batsman’s legacy at the international level.

In this article, we’ll break down the maiden century meaning, its types across formats (Test, ODI, T20I), along with famous examples, records, and FAQs.

Maiden Century Meaning

The phrase “maiden century” in cricket refers to the first-ever hundred (100 or more runs) scored by a batsman in international or domestic cricket.

• Maiden = First time
• Century = Scoring 100 or more runs in a single innings

So when a batsman scores 100 runs for the very first time in his career, it is called his maiden hundred.

Example:

• Sourav Ganguly scored his maiden Test century (131 runs) against England at Lord’s in 1996.
• Virat Kohli scored his maiden ODI century against Sri Lanka in 2009.

What is Maiden Century in Cricket?

• A maiden century in cricket means the first 100-run milestone in any format.
• It can be in Tests, One-Day Internationals (ODIs), or T20 Internationals (T20Is).
• It often becomes a memorable landmark in a player’s career because it boosts confidence and sets the tone for future performances.

Types of Maiden Centuries

Format	Maiden Century Example	Significance
Maiden Test Century	Sourav Ganguly – 131 vs England at Lord’s (1996)	Proves endurance and technique in the longest format
Maiden ODI Century	Virat Kohli – 107 vs Sri Lanka (2009)	Marks consistency in limited overs cricket
Maiden T20I Century	Suresh Raina – 101 vs South Africa (2010 T20 WC)	Showcases explosive batting in shortest format

What is Maiden Test Century?

• A maiden Test century is when a batsman scores 100 or more runs for the first time in a Test match innings.
• It’s often considered the toughest maiden century to achieve because of the five-day format, strong bowling attacks, and testing conditions.

Famous Maiden Test Centuries:

• Sachin Tendulkar – 119* vs England (1990)
• Sourav Ganguly – 131 vs England (1996)
• Rishabh Pant – 114 vs England (2018)

What is Maiden ODI Century?

• A maiden ODI century is the first 100 scored in a One-Day International.
• Since ODIs are 50-over matches, players need to balance strike rotation and big hits.

Examples:

• Virat Kohli’s maiden ODI hundred (107 vs Sri Lanka, 2009).
• Rohit Sharma’s maiden ODI hundred (114 vs Zimbabwe, 2010).

What is Maiden T20I Century?

• A maiden T20I century is the first century scored in the shortest format.
• T20 centuries are rare and difficult because batsmen usually get fewer balls to face.

Examples:

• Suresh Raina – 101 vs South Africa (2010 T20 World Cup).
• KL Rahul – 110* vs West Indies (2016).

Difference Between Maiden Century and Century in Cricket

Term	Meaning
Century	Any score of 100+ runs in an innings
Maiden Century	The very first 100+ runs milestone in a player’s career

So, every maiden century is a century, but not every century is a maiden century.

Related Terms: Maiden in Cricket Means?

The word “maiden” in cricket can mean different things depending on context:

• Maiden Over: An over in which the bowler concedes 0 runs.
• Maiden Wicket: A bowler’s first-ever wicket.
• Maiden Century: A batsman’s first-ever century.
• Maiden Trophy: A team’s first-ever tournament win.

Why is a Maiden Century Special?

1. Milestone Achievement – It’s a player’s entry into the list of century-makers.
2. Boosts Confidence – Proves capability at the highest level.
3. Career Breakthrough – Often turns promising players into established stars.
4. Fan Recognition – Creates lasting memories for supporters.
5. Record Books – The first is always remembered.

Notable Records of Maiden Centuries

• Youngest Player to Score a Maiden Century:
  • Sachin Tendulkar at 17 years (Test, 1990).
• Fastest Maiden ODI Century by an Indian:
  • Ishan Kishan – 111 vs Bangladesh (2022).
• Most Maiden Centuries by Country (Combined):
  • India, Australia, and England lead due to their long cricket history.

Maiden Hundred Meaning vs Maiden Trophy Meaning

• Maiden Hundred Meaning: First individual score of 100+ runs.
• Maiden Trophy Meaning: First tournament win by a team.
  • Example: Sri Lanka won their maiden T20 World Cup in 2014.

Unique ODI Records Related to Maiden Centuries

• Shubman Gill scored his maiden ODI century (208 runs) against New Zealand in 2023 – the highest score for a maiden ton.
• Some players scored a maiden century on debut matches (like Desmond Haynes, Ganguly, etc.).

Famous Indian Players and Their Maiden Centuries

Player	Format	Opponent	Year
Sachin Tendulkar	Test	England	1990
Sourav Ganguly	Test	England	1996
Virat Kohli	ODI	Sri Lanka	2009
Rohit Sharma	ODI	Zimbabwe	2010
KL Rahul	Test	Australia	2015
Suresh Raina	T20I	South Africa	2010

FAQs About Maiden Century in Cricket

Q1. What is maiden century in cricket?
It is the first-ever 100 scored by a batsman in his career.

Q2. What is maiden century meaning in Test cricket?
The first 100 scored in a Test match innings.

Q3. Who scored India’s first maiden Test century?
Lala Amarnath (1933) was the first Indian to score a Test century.

Q4. What is maiden hundred meaning?
It means a player’s first 100 runs milestone in cricket.

Q5. What is maiden ODI century?
The first 100 scored in One-Day Internationals.

Q6. Who has the fastest maiden century in ODIs?
Ishan Kishan with 111 runs vs Bangladesh in 2022.

Q7. What is maiden T20I century?
The first century scored in T20 Internationals.

Q8. What does maiden in cricket mean besides batting?
It can mean maiden over (no runs conceded) or maiden wicket.

Q9. Which Indian player has most centuries after maiden century?
Sachin Tendulkar, with 100 international hundreds.

Q10. Why is a maiden century celebrated so much?
Because it marks the first time a batsman enters the elite list of century scorers.

Conclusion

A maiden century in cricket is a priceless milestone for any player. Whether in Test, ODI, or T20I, it’s remembered as the starting point of greatness. From Tendulkar’s maiden Test hundred at Old Trafford to Kohli’s maiden ODI ton against Sri Lanka, such moments are celebrated across generations.

Cricket fans always remember a player’s first century — because in cricket, there’s nothing like your maiden hundred.