There have been moments in white-ball cricket that have been dubbed as ‘once in a lifetime’ or certain records that are cemented atop certain categories in the cricketing books with nobody to challenge or surpass them. In fact, these records or moments have played a humongous role in elevating the sport, and with that, ensured the exponential rise in the following for the gentleman’s game.
While limited-overs cricket has evolved immensely over the years, and add to that, the saying – ‘Records are meant to be broken’, there are certain records or statistics held by cricketers in One-Day Internationals that may never be broken.
Let us take a look at 7 records in ODI cricket that may never be broken –
Highest individual score in an innings – Rohit Sharma (264)
Popularly known by the masses as ‘Hitman’, Rohit is the only cricketer to hold 3 double centuries in ODI cricket. An elegant timer and one of the great batters in white-ball history, the carnage that Rohit unleashed onto the Sri Lankan bowling attack at Eden Gardens in 2014 is something that will be remembered by cricket lovers for years to come.
In fact, it was one of the knocks that cemented his career in ODI cricket. Prior to this, Rohit had clocked a double ton against Australia (209) in 2013, which was his first double century in ODIs, but the knock in Kolkata that witnessed him hammering 264 runs off 173 deliveries supersedes that innings.
At the start of the innings, Rohit was dropped when batting on 4, a catch that proved fatal for the tourists as the match progressed.
Scoring his century off 100 balls, the opener then changed gears and smashed another fifty runs in merely 25 deliveries. He recorded his double hundred off 151 deliveries and went absolutely beast in the remaining deliveries that he faced at the crease.
Overall, he struck 33 fours and 9 sixes to register 264 and steered the Men in Blue to 404 runs at the end of 50-overs, a match the Dhoni-led side won by 153 runs.
It doesn’t just sound daunting but an even arduous record to overcome for any cricketer in limited-overs cricket!
Best career economy rate in ODIs – Joel Garner (3.09)
Talk about Caribbean bowling greats and one will surely stumble upon Joel Garner. Standing 6 foot 8 inches, and fondly known as the ‘Big Bird’, the right-arm pacer was a part of the deadly pace quartet comprising Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall and Andy Roberts that ruled the World cricket in the 1970s and 80s. Also, he holds the distinction of being the highest ranked bowler in ODIs as per ICC’s best over bowling ratings.
With the ball, Garner was among the prime contributors to West Indies’ conquests in the limited-overs format. He could command pace and extract bounce with ease that made him one of the most feared bowlers in his era.
Since his ODI debut against Pakistan in 1977, Garner made a total of 93 appearances and scalped 146 wickets at an awe-striking average of 18.84 and an astonishing economy rate of 3.09, including 2 four-wicket hauls and 3 five-wicket hauls.
Garner was highly noted for his match-winning figures of 39/5 in the 1979 World Cup finals against England, which is the best bowling performance by any bowler in the final. Add to that, his economy rate is the best by any bowler in ODIs who have bowled a minimum of 1000 deliveries, a record that may never be broken in 50-over cricket.
Most matches as a captain in ODI cricket – Ricky Ponting (230)
Arguably, Ricky Ponting is one of the greatest cricketers to have ever played the game and perhaps, the greatest captain in limited-overs cricket. Punter took the baton from Aussie great Steve Waugh, and under his leadership, Australia reached the pinnacles in international cricket and looked almost invincible from 2002-2007.
A mentally strong and aggressive leader, Ponting led the Aussies to World Cup victories in 2003 and 2007 (equalling Sir Clive Llyod’s tally of two world cups as a captain), and Champions Trophy wins in 2006 and 2009. He holds the record for the most number of most matches as a captain in World Cups (29) and most wins as a captain (26) with merely two losses, a no result, and a win percentage of 92.85.
His tally of leading the national side in 230 ODIs is a historic feat for any cricketer, in fact, it is a record that may never be broken, considering the second closest to the tally is former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming (218 matches) followed by former India skipper MS Dhoni (200 matches).
Also Read: 4 Legendary Test batsmen who failed to deliver their potential in India
Most runs in ODIs without scoring a hundred – Misbah-ul-Haq (5122)
One of the calmest and composed cricketers and a highly bankable player from Pakistan to have competed in the limited-overs cricket, Misbah Ul Haq holds a rather unwanted record of scoring the most runs in One-Day- Internationals without scoring a hundred.
In 149 innings, the right-hander amassed 5,122 runs at an impressive average of 43.42 and a strike rate of 73.75, with 42 half-centuries but no century to his name, and a personal best of 96 against West Indies in the year 2013, in spite of scoring 80 and above on 6 occasions.
He remained unbeaten on 31 occasions, which pretty much tells how crucial his presence at the crease meant for Pakistan in ensuring a triumph. A record for ages perhaps, most runs in ODIs without scoring a ton!
Also Read: 7 Indian cricketers whose Test centuries never came in a losing cause
Most runs as an opener in ODI cricket – Sachin Tendulkar (15,310)
Another record in the cricketing books for the Master Blaster. Widely known by the cricket fanatics as the ‘God of Cricket’, Sachin’s presence in the middle gave a nightmare to the bowlers on a number of occasions. He provided healthy starts to the innings, anchored when needed, and ensured that he contributed a mammoth count to the team’s total during his stay in the middle.
In 452 innings that he batted and scored a whopping 18,426 runs, Sachin opened on a record 340 occasions and compiled a mammoth tally of 15,310 runs at an average of 48.30 and a strike rate of 88.05, including a personal best of 200* against South Africa in Indore in 2010, which was the first double hundred by a cricketer in ODI cricket.
Second and third in the list of leading run-getters as an opener in ODIs includes former Sri Lankan cricketer Kumar Sangakkara (12,740 in 383 innings) and West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle (10,179 runs in 274 innings).
As an opener, Sachin scored a total of 45 centuries and 75 half-centuries, which is the most by any player in the history of one-day internationals. Quite certainly, this is another record by Sachin Tendulkar that will not be broken and stay safe forever.
Also Read: 5 Decisions taken by Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni that changed the fate of Indian cricket
Most Man of the Match awards in ODIs – Sachin Tendulkar (62)
Record books in international cricket would be incomplete without Master Blaster. Hailed by the cricket fraternity as one of the most complete batsmen the game has witnessed, Sachin Tendulkar holds the record of most ‘Man of the Match’ awards in ODI cricket.
From his ODI debut on 18th December 18, 1989, to 18th March 18, 2012, the last time he donned the ODI jersey for India, Sachin won a record 62 ‘Player of the Match’ titles in 463 appearances.
Although some of the awards came in a losing cause, for instance, his 175 against Australia in Hyderabad in 2009 that India lost by merely 3 runs, still, one can just imagine his dominance over the game and how crucial he was for the Men in Blue in 50-over cricket.
The second player on the list is Sri Lankan batting great Sanath Jayasuriya with 37 Player of the Match awards followed by Indian skipper Virat Kohli (36 awards), who presently has the best chance of surpassing the former and attaining the second spot. However, it still would be too daunting a task to equal and surpass Sachin’s tally of most ‘Man of the Match’ titles.
Also Read: Top 10 finishers of all-time in white-ball cricket
Most number fours in ODIs: Sachin Tendulkar (2016)
Another mighty record that Sachin Tendulkar holds is of scoring the most number of fours in ODIs. Out of 18,426 runs in a career spanning 24 years and 463 One-Day Internationals, the 48-year-old notched 2016 fours and comfortably sits atop the table.
Interestingly, there’s a massive voifd between him and the second and third positions occupied by Sri Lankan batters – Sanath Jayasuriya (1500) and Kumar Sangakkara (1385).
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