Temba Bavuma is leading South Africa in the ongoing three-match ODI series against Australia, and during the second ODI between the two teams at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday (September 27), he entered his name in the history books by becoming the oldest captain to score an ODI century for the Proteas.
Bavuma is 36 years and 133 days old on September 27, 2026. The previous record for being the oldest captain to score an ODI century for South Africa was held by Faf du Plessis. Du Plessis was 34 years and 358 days old when he scored 100 runs off 94 balls for South Africa as captain against Australia at Old Trafford in Manchester on July 6, 2019.
Oldest captains to score ODI century for South Africa
| PLAYER | RUNS | BALLS | 4s | 6s | AGE | AGAINST | VENUE | DATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temba Bavuma | 103 | 116 | 10 | 2 | 36 years, 133 days | Australia | Johannesburg | September 27, 2026 |
| Faf du Plessis | 100 | 94 | 7 | 2 | 34 years, 358 days | Australia | Manchester | July 6, 2019 |
| Faf du Plessis | 112* | 114 | 15 | 1 | 34 years, 233 days | Sri Lanka | Johannesburg | March 3, 2019 |
| Jacques Kallis | 104* | 94 | 5 | 3 | 34 years, 134 days | India | Ahmedabad | February 27, 2010 |
| Faf du Plessis | 125 | 114 | 15 | 2 | 34 years, 121 days | Australia | Hobart | November 11, 2018 |
In the second ODI against Australia
at The Wanderers Stadium, Bavuma needed 112 balls to reach the 100-run mark.
He now has two ODI centuries to his name against Australia. Only Du Plessis (3) has scored more ODI centuries as captain for South Africa against the Aussies.
The world record for being the oldest captain to score an ODI century is held by Khurram Khan of the United Arab Emirates. Khurram Khan was 43 years and 162 days old when he scored an unbeaten 132 runs off 138 balls against Afghanistan in Dubai on November 30, 2014.
Oldest captains to score ODI century
| Player | COUNTRY | RUNS | BALLS | 4s | 6s | AGE | AGAINST | VENUE | DATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khurram Khan | UAE | 132* | 138 | 17 | 1 | 43 years, 162 days | Afghanistan | Dubai (ICC-A) | November 30, 2014 |
| Richie Berrington | Scotland | 120 | 103 | 15 | 4 | 39 years, 132 days | Canada | Dundee | August 13, 2026 |
| Richie Berrington | Scotland | 102 | 114 | 6 | 4 | 38 years, 66 days | Nepal | Dundee | June 8, 2025 |
| Kyle Coetzer | Scotland | 108* | 142 | 16 | 0 | 38 years, 47 days | UAE | Pearland | May 31, 2022 |
| Richie Berrington | Scotland | 105 | 86 | 5 | 5 | 38 years, 43 days | Netherlands | Utrecht | May 16, 2025 |
| Craig Ervine | Zimbabwe | 121* | 128 | 15 | 1 | 37 years, 303 days | Nepal | Harare | June 18, 2023 |
| Rohit Sharma | India | 119 | 90 | 12 | 7 | 37 years, 285 days | England | Cuttack | February 9, 2025 |
| Gordon Greenidge | West Indies | 102* | 154 | 5 | 0 | 37 years, 170 days | Pakistan | Sharjah | October 18, 1988 |
| Steve Tikolo | Kenya | 102 | 99 | 12 | 2 | 37 years, 116 days | Zimbabwe | Nairobi (Gym) | October 19, 2008 |
| Jatinder Singh | Oman | 130 | 96 | 15 | 5 | 37 years, 55 days | Nepal | Kirtipur | April 29, 2026 |
Among players from Full Member nations, the record for being the oldest captain to score an ODI century is held by Zimbabwe’s Craig Ervine. Ervine was 37 years and 303 days old when he scored an unbeaten 121 against Nepal in Harare on June 18, 2023.
