One Day International (ODI) cricket

The history of One Day International (ODI) cricket began on January 5, 1971, when Australia played England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This match was a result of officials deciding to abandon a test match washed out by rain and instead play a one-off limited-overs game. Australia won by 5 wickets. ODIs initially featured white clothing and a red ball. In the late 1970s, innovations such as colored uniforms, white balls, day/night matches under floodlights, and enhanced broadcast features were introduced, partly due to the World Series Cricket competition founded by Kerry Packer. By 2001, white flannels and red balls were completely replaced in ODIs.

The main playing nations in One Day International (ODI) cricket

The main playing nations in One Day International (ODI) cricket as of 2025 include:

• India
• New Zealand
• Pakistan
• Bangladesh
• South Africa
• Australia
• Afghanistan
• England
• Sri Lanka
• West Indies
• Zimbabwe
• Ireland
• Netherlands

There are also several other Associate and Affiliate nations that have played ODIs, but these are the key Test-playing and prominent ODI nations.

Regarding the number of ODIs played by some of the major teams (approximately as of mid-2025 based on various sources):

• India: About 1,050+ ODIs played
• Australia: About 950+ ODIs played
• Pakistan: About 900+ ODIs played
• England: About 900+ ODIs played
• New Zealand: About 700+ ODIs played
• South Africa: About 600+ ODIs played
• Sri Lanka: About 650+ ODIs played
• Bangladesh: About 350+ ODIs played
• Afghanistan: About 100+ ODIs played

These numbers reflect the extent of participation in this format, with India and Australia being the most prolific in terms of total ODIs played. Some smaller or newer cricket nations have played fewer matches, generally under the ICC World Cup League or qualifiers.

If more precise or detailed stats for specific countries or for Associate nations are needed, further data retrieval is possible.

Famous One Day International (ODI) cricket tournaments

Some of the most famous One Day International (ODI) cricket tournaments in the world are:

• ICC Cricket World Cup: The premier ODI tournament held every four years featuring the top cricket nations competing for the world champion title.
• ICC Champions Trophy: A prestigious tournament with the top eight ODI teams competing, scheduled to return in 2025 in Pakistan.
• Asia Cup: A regional tournament involving Asian cricketing nations like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.
• Various Tri-Nation and Quadrangular Series: These smaller ODI tournaments involve three or four international teams competing in a round-robin format.
• Regional ODI leagues and ICC World Cup qualification leagues: Support global expansion, involving associate nations.

These ODI tournaments are the main international events showcasing the 50-over cricket format, drawing significant global attention and large audiences. The ICC Cricket World Cup remains the most prestigious and celebrated ODI tournament, followed by the Champions Trophy and prominent regional competitions.

Top 20 leading run-scorers in One Day International (ODI) cricket

Here are the top 20 leading run-scorers in One Day International (ODI) cricket as of 2025:

Rank	Player	Country	Matches	Runs
1	Sachin Tendulkar	India	463	18,426
2	Kumar Sangakkara	Sri Lanka	404	14,234
3	Virat Kohli	India	302	14,181
4	Ricky Ponting	Australia	375	13,704
5	Sanath Jayasuriya	Sri Lanka	445	13,430
6	Mahela Jayawardene	Sri Lanka	448	12,650
7	Inzamam-ul-Haq	Pakistan	378	11,739
8	Jacques Kallis	South Africa	328	11,579
9	Sourav Ganguly	India	311	11,363
10	Rohit Sharma	India	273	11,168
11	Rahul Dravid	India	344	10,889
12	MS Dhoni	India	350	10,773
13	Chris Gayle	West Indies	301	10,480
14	Brian Lara	West Indies	299	10,405
15	Hashan Tillakaratne	Sri Lanka	330	10,290
16	Mohammad Yousuf	Pakistan	288	9,720
17	Adam Gilchrist	Australia	287	9,619
18	AB de Villiers	South Africa	228	9,577
19	Mohammad Azharuddin	India	334	9,378
20	Aravinda de Silva	Sri Lanka	308	9,284

These players represent a mix of eras and several cricketing nations, with Sachin Tendulkar holding the all-time highest runs in ODI cricket.

Top 20 players with the most centuries in One Day International (ODI) cricket

Here are the top 20 players with the most centuries in One Day International (ODI) cricket as of 2025:

Rank	Player	Country	Centuries
1	Virat Kohli	India	51
2	Sachin Tendulkar	India	49
3	Rohit Sharma	India	32
4	Ricky Ponting	Australia	30
5	Sanath Jayasuriya	Sri Lanka	28
6	Hashim Amla	South Africa	27
7	AB de Villiers	South Africa	25
8	Chris Gayle	West Indies	25
9	Kumar Sangakkara	Sri Lanka	25
10	David Warner	Australia	22
11	Babar Azam	Pakistan	19
12	Quinton de Kock	South Africa	17
13	Shikhar Dhawan	India	17
14	Joe Root	England	16
15	Tamim Iqbal	Bangladesh	14
16	Kane Williamson	New Zealand	13
17	Steve Smith	Australia	12
18	Rahul Dravid	India	12
19	Jonny Bairstow	England	11
20	Jos Buttler	England	11

Virat Kohli leads the list with 51 ODI centuries, overtaking the legendary Sachin Tendulkar who has 49 centuries. The list features a dominant presence of Indian players followed by players from Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and England among others.

Top 10 highest individual scores in One Day International (ODI) cricket history

Here are the top 10 highest individual scores in One Day International (ODI) cricket history as of 2025:

1. Rohit Sharma (India) – 264 vs Sri Lanka, Eden Gardens, Kolkata, 2014
2. Martin Guptill (New Zealand) – 237* vs West Indies, Wellington, 2015
3. Virender Sehwag (India) – 219 vs West Indies, Indore, 2011
4. Chris Gayle (West Indies) – 215 vs Zimbabwe, Canberra, 2015
5. Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan) – 210* vs Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, 2018
6. Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka) – 210* vs Afghanistan, Kandy, 2024
7. Ishan Kishan (India) – 210 vs Bangladesh, Chattogram, 2022
8. Rohit Sharma (India) – 209 vs Australia, Bangalore, 2013
9. Rohit Sharma (India) – 208* vs Sri Lanka, Mohali, 2017
10. Shubman Gill (India) – 208 vs New Zealand, Hyderabad, 2023

These scores highlight extraordinary individual batting performances in ODI cricket, with Rohit Sharma holding the record for the highest individual score (264 runs). Several players have multiple entries in the top scores, reflecting their dominance in this format.

Top 10 wicket-taking players in One Day International (ODI) cricket history

The top 10 wicket-taking players in One Day International (ODI) cricket history as of 2025 are:

Rank	Player	Country	Matches	Wickets
1	Muttiah Muralitharan	Sri Lanka	350	534
2	Wasim Akram	Pakistan	356	502
3	Waqar Younis	Pakistan	262	416
4	Chaminda Vaas	Sri Lanka	322	400
5	Shahid Afridi	Pakistan	398	395
6	Shaun Pollock	South Africa	303	393
7	Glenn McGrath	Australia	250	381
8	Brett Lee	Australia	221	380
9	Lasith Malinga	Sri Lanka	226	338
10	Anil Kumble	India	271	337

Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka holds the record for the most wickets in ODI cricket with 534 wickets. The list features legendary fast bowlers and spinners who have dominated ODI cricket with their exceptional bowling skills.

The top 10 wicket-taking performances in a single One Day International (ODI) match are:

1. Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka) – 8 wickets for 19 runs vs Zimbabwe in 2001
2. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – 7 wickets for 12 runs
3. Glenn McGrath (Australia) – 7 wickets for 15 runs
4. Waqar Younis (Pakistan) – 7 wickets for 36 runs
5. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) – 7 wickets for 30 runs
6. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) – 7 wickets for 18 runs
7. Tim Southee (New Zealand) – 7 wickets for 33 runs
8. Trent Boult (New Zealand) – 7 wickets for 34 runs
9. Andy Bichel (Australia) – 7 wickets for 20 runs
10. Paul Collingwood (England) – 6 wickets for 31 runs

Chaminda Vaas holds the record for the most wickets in a single ODI match with 8 wickets for 19 runs, a rare feat unmatched by any other bowler in ODI history.