Shai Hope Surpasses Sachin Tendulkar In Unique ODI Landmark :TONS against 12 different countries

West Indies star Shai Hope has created a unique slice of history by becoming the first player in international cricket to register centuries against each of the eleven other Full Member nations, thanks to his unbeaten 109 against New Zealand in Napier. This milestone knock lifts Hope to the summit of the record books, as he now boasts hundreds against 13 different international sides, a list that also features two Associate teams.

Hope’s 109 not out from just 69 deliveries on November 19, 2025, represents a defining moment both in his own career and for West Indies cricket. With this innings, he moved past illustrious names like Mahela Jayawardene and Chris Gayle, who had reached three-figure scores against 12 separate opponents, while his sustained success across such a wide variety of teams showcases the versatility and high-level skill that have become his trademark at the international stage.

The Unique Record Where Hope Edges Tendulkar

The landmark that has drawn attention is Hope’s extraordinary conversion rate and average in successful ODI run chases. In matches where West Indies have chased down targets with Hope scoring a fifty or more, his average and frequency of match-winning scores now eclipse Tendulkar’s equivalent record for India.

Hope has stacked up centuries and big fifties in successful chases at a rate that is unprecedented for a West Indian batter and superior to what Tendulkar managed during his illustrious ODI career in the same match situation. In other words, when the team needs runs on the board under pressure, Hope’s ability to anchor, accelerate, and finish has set a new modern benchmark.

Tendulkar played in an era of lower scoring rates and different field restrictions, but the raw comparison of success in chases still highlights just how influential Hope has become for the Caribbean side.

A New ‘Chase Specialist’ For West Indies

For years, cricket fans associated the art of chasing with Indian legends like Tendulkar and later Virat Kohli. West Indies, on the other hand, were often seen as a side that exploded with power but lacked reliability in structured chases. Shai Hope has changed that narrative almost single-handedly.

Batting with classical technique yet modern intent, Hope offers several qualities crucial for ODI chases:

A stable, low-risk start in the powerplay
Smart rotation of strike in the middle overs
The ability to bat deep and control the tempo
A composed finish, even as required run-rates climb

These traits have helped him compile an ODI record where his average in successful chases is among the world’s best. In a number of matches, West Indies’ chances have seemed directly tied to Hope’s presence at the crease.

Comparing Eras: Tendulkar’s Legacy Vs Hope’s Niche Dominance

Any comparison with Sachin Tendulkar must be made carefully. Tendulkar’s ODI career stretched across 24 years, two generations of bowling attacks, and drastic changes in rules and conditions. He opened the batting for most of his career and carried the expectations of a billion fans, often on pitches not nearly as batting-friendly as many encountered today.

Shai Hope, in contrast, plays in an era of heavier bats, shorter boundaries, and higher par scores. However, the mental pressure of chasing totals above 300 consistently is also intense, and modern analytics place immense scrutiny on every dismissal and strike-rate fluctuation.

What makes Hope’s achievement so compelling is that, within this high-pressure, high-scoring environment, his numbers in successful chases outstrip those of Tendulkar in equivalent situations. It does not mean Hope is a greater overall batter than Tendulkar, but it firmly establishes that in this particular niche—anchoring and winning ODI chases—Hope has carved out a level of dominance that even the Indian legend did not statistically match.

Leadership, Responsibility, And Peak Years Ahead

Shai Hope’s evolution from promising talent to the backbone of West Indies’ ODI batting has coincided with his rise in leadership. As captain and senior player, his wicket often becomes the psychological turning point of an innings. Bowlers know that removing Hope early usually opens the door; keeping him in check without conceding boundaries is a rare luxury.

This added responsibility has not weighed him down. Instead, Hope’s strike rotation has improved, his boundary-hitting has become more calculated, and his shot selection in pressure moments reflects maturity beyond his years. These elements have fed into his chasing record, where his calmness under pressure evokes the sort of reliability fans once associated with Tendulkar in key run chases.

Crucially, Hope is still in the heart of his career, with several peak years ahead. If fitness and form hold, the gap between his chasing statistics and those of past greats is likely to widen even further.

What Hope’s Record Means For West Indies Cricket

For West Indies cricket, Shai Hope’s unprecedented chasing numbers offer more than just a statistical curiosity. They signal a shift in identity. Historically celebrated for explosive stroke-makers and fearsome fast bowlers, West Indies now possess a technically correct, temperamentally steady ODI anchor who wins matches through accumulation and intelligence.

This reliability at the top order allows the rest of the batting line-up to express themselves with greater freedom. Middle-order hitters can attack knowing that Hope provides a stable platform. Young players coming into the side also gain a model of professionalism and responsibility, not just flair. His records speak for himself.

In a global ODI landscape crowded with power-hitters and all-rounders, a high-calibre chase specialist like Hope gives West Indies a distinct tactical asset. Oppositions now plan specifically for him, and his presence in run chases has become as central to West Indies’ strategy as Tendulkar’s was for India in his time.

A New Kind Of Greatness

Calling anyone greater than Sachin Tendulkar remains a step too far for most cricket fans, and rightly so, given his unmatched combination of longevity, volume, and impact. But greatness in cricket is not one-dimensional. Tendulkar’s empire was built on all-format dominance and record-breaking aggregates. Shai Hope’s emerging legacy may be built on something narrower but still historic: the art of mastering ODI chases for West Indies.

In that specific arena, Hope now stands at heights that even the “God of Cricket” did not numerically reach. For a team eager to rebuild its global standing, having a batter who can outshine even Tendulkar in one of the game’s most pressure-filled situations is not just a statistical milestone—it is a symbol of hope in more ways than one.