Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Afghanistan’s rising wicketkeeper-batsman, made history on Monday by becoming the second-youngest player to reach eight centuries in One Day Internationals (ODI), surpassing milestones set by cricket greats Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, and Babar Azam.
Gurbaz reached the landmark in a crucial match against Bangladesh in Sharjah, where his 101 runs off 120 balls helped lead Afghanistan to a five-wicket victory. This was Gurbaz’s third ODI century of the year and his eighth overall, further cementing his status as Afghanistan’s leading century-maker in ODI cricket.
At 22 years and 357 days, Gurbaz achieved his eighth ODI hundred, overtaking Tendulkar, who reached the mark at a slightly older age. South Africa’s Quinton de Kock remains the youngest to accomplish this feat, having done so at 22 years and 312 days. Following them, Kohli reached the milestone at 23 years and 27 days, while Pakistan’s Babar Azam reached it at 23 years and 280 days.
Gurbaz now holds the record for the most ODI centuries by an Afghan player, surpassing Mohammad Shahzad, who has six centuries.
Looking ahead to the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan in February and March, Afghanistan will first travel to Zimbabwe for a multi-format series, including three T20 matches, three ODIs, and two Test matches in Bulawayo.
