ODI Stats: Most Matches Played in Career

The current scenario concerning ODI cricket is that matches are happening far and few, but it was one of the most sought-after formats not so long ago. Many cricket legends made their name by excelling in the longest form of white-ball cricket. While the popularity of ODIs may have taken a hit, the 50-overs World Cup is still the most prestigious tournament in all of cricket.

So who are the players that made the format what it is? We will find out in this article featuring the top 10 players with the most number of ODI games. Unsurprisingly, this list features players who were active in bygone eras, as currently, T20s have taken center stage.

Most Matches Played in ODI Cricket

Key Stats

21 different players have played 300 or more ODI games in the format, and the list includes prominent stars like Rahul Dravid (344), Mohammad Azharuddin (334), TM Dilshan (330), Jacques Kallis (328), Steve Waugh (325), Chaminda Vaas (322), Sourav Ganguly (311), Aravinda de Silva (308), Yuvraj Singh (304), Shaun Pollock (303), & Chris Gayle (301).

While Brian Lara finished his career having played 299 ODI games, India’s Virat Kohli is the next in line to join this illustrious club. The other closest active players in the circuit are Mushfiqur Rahim (272) and India skipper Rohit Sharma.

Sachin Tendulkar, who has played the maximum number of Tests (200), leads the way in ODIs as well. He played a whopping 463 ODIs and was closely followed by Sri Lankan duo Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. Sachin is the leading run-getter in the format, and Muralitharan, who played 350 games, is the highest wicket-taker in ODIs.

85 players have played at least 200 ODI games, with former South African cricketer JP Duminy finishing his career with 199 ODI caps for his country.

While 14 bowlers have taken 300 or more wickets in ODIs, 15 batters have gone past the elite 10,000 run mark in the format. Jayasuriya is the only cricketer to have achieved both of these landmarks.