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
| Player | Matches Played | Runs Scored | Wickets Taken | Career Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar (IND) | 463 | 18426 | 154 | 1989-2012 |
| Mahela Jayawardene (SL) | 448 | 12650 | 8 | 1998-2015 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) | 445 | 13430 | 323 | 1989-2011 |
| Kumar Sangakkara (SL) | 404 | 14234 | 0 | 2000-2015 |
| Shahid Afridi (PAK) | 398 | 8064 | 395 | 1996-2015 |
| Inzamam-ul-Haq (PAK) | 378 | 11739 | 3 | 1991-2007 |
| Ricky Ponting (AUS) | 375 | 13704 | 3 | 1995-2012 |
| Wasim Akram (PAK) | 356 | 3717 | 502 | 1984-2003 |
| MS Dhoni (IND) | 350 | 10773 | 1 | 2004-2019 |
| Muthiah Muralidaran (SL) | 350 | 674 | 534 | 1993-2011 |
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 skipper Rohit Sharma.
