Hyderabad: There are plenty of cricketers who played over 300 ODIs. Some even went on to play over 400 ODIs. But have you ever imagined which cricketer won the maximum number of matches in ODI cricket history? This article will feature those cricketers who already hung their cricketing kits and now busy in coaching and some other activities. They are legends of the game and played a pivotal role in winning their team many matches.
Here we pick 5 batting legends with most wins in ODI cricket.
Ricky Ponting
Former Australia batsman Ricky Ponting is a two-time World Cup-winning captain. He is the highest run-scorer for Australia in both ODIs and Tests. In both formats, he has scored over 13000 runs. The legendary captain played 375 ODIs for Australia and ICC World XI between 1995 and 2012. As a player, he won a record 262 matches, most by a batsman in ODI cricket history. He led Australia in 229 ODIs and won whopping 164 matches. His winning percentage as a captain is 71.62.
Sachin Tendulkar
The legendary Indian batsman, Sachin Tendulkar, is the best batsman to have played the game of cricket in the modern era. When he played cricket was boasted of many legendary cricketers. His duels with fast bowling superstars are noteworthy sagas of the game.
Sachin played 463 ODIs for India and Asia XI. He won a total of 234 matches. Matches he won, the matches abandoned, tied, no results, drawn are not included. So he won more than 50% ODIs of his career. Out of his 49 ODI ton, 33 came in a winning cause.
Sachin is the highest run-scorer in international cricket. He scored 15921 runs in Tests and 18426 runs in ODIs. He is the only batsman to score 100 hundreds.
As a captain, Sachin couldn't do justice to his reputation as he led India in 73 ODIs and lost 43 of them.
Sanath Jayasuriya
1996 World Cup-winning Sri Lanka legend Sanath Jayasuriya has played 445 ODIs for Sri Lanka and Asia XI. He was one of the most destructive batsmen of his era. Jayasuriya was also a useful left-arm spinner. He was known for his match-winning ability. In 1996 World Cup, he won Player of the Tournament award for scoring 221 runs and taking 7 wickets.
Out of 445 ODIs, he won 233. Jayasuriya also captained Sri Lanka in 117 ODIs. In 2003 World Cup, he led Sri Lanka to the semifinal in which they lost to eventual champions Australia. As an ODI captain, he won 65 matches and lost 47.
Mahela Jayawardene
This list is dominated by Asian batsmen. The fourth place in this list is occupied by Sri Lankan batting legend Mahela Jayawardene. He played 448 matches, second-most after Sachin's 463.
Jayawardene was an excellent right-handed batsman. He scored 12650 runs in ODI cricket at an average of 33.37 while in Test he amassed 11814 runs at an average of 49.84.
During his ODI career, he won 241 matches, most by a Sri Lankan batsman and second in the world after Ricky Ponting who won whopping 262 matches. Jayawardene also led Sri Lanka in 130 ODIs. Under his captaincy, Sri Lanka played the 2007 World Cup final in which they lost to Australia by 53 runs. As an ODI captain, Jayawardene won 72 matches and lost 49.
Inzamam-ul-Haq
The fifth man in this list is a former Pakistani batting maestro, Inzamam-ul-Haq.
Inzamam was a great batsman. He played 378 matches for Pakistani, Asia XI and ICC World XI. Inzamam is the highest run-scorer for Pakistan in ODI cricket with 11739 runs. He is a 1992 World Cup-winning hero of Pakistan. He was one of the key players in Pakistan's solitary World Cup win in Australia-New Zealand.
Since his ODI debut in the 1992 World Cup till his retirement in 2007 edition of the ICC event, he won 215 matches. Inzamam also led Pakistan in ODI and Test cricket. As a captain, he led Pakistan in 89 ODIs and won 52 of them. In Pakistan cricket history, there was no better match-winner than Inzamam. He excelled both as a batsman and captain.
