Who is the first cricketer to play 300 ODI matches?

Former India skipper Virat Kohli has become the 22nd player to take part in 300 ODI matches. The feat came in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025 game against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday. Kohli is also the seventh Indian star to achieve this feat in the fifty-over format. Interestingly, the first ever cricketer to play 300 ODI cricket matches was also an Indian. 

The man is none other than former India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin. In yet another strange irony, Azharuddin’s 300th ODI appearance came in 1998 in the ICC Knockout Trophy in what is now called the Champions Trophy. Azhar played his 300th ODI match versus Australia on 28th October in Dhaka. 

Team India went on to win the game thanks to Sachin Tendulkar’s brilliance. Then, aged 25, Tendulkar scored 141 off 128 balls with 13 fours and three sixes. Tendulkar then starred with the ball, taking 4/38 and helping India win the game by 44 runs. Azharuddin scored a three-ball duck as he fell to Damien Fleming to mark a disappointing outing in the landmark game. 

Virat Kohli joins select list of players on Sunday

36-year-old batter Virat Kohli had played his 299th game against Pakistan last Sunday. India’s former skipper had to wait a week in a bid to earn his 300th cap in the fifty-over format. Kohli had made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in 2008. With India confirmed to play the semis, Kohli will be on par with Chris Gayle with 301 ODI matches in terms of all-time appearances. 

For the record, Mohammad Azharuddin is still 12th in the list of the most capped ODI players with 334 matches. India’s batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has played 463 matches and is top of the list. The Sri Lankan trio of Mahela Jayawardene (448), Sanath Jayasuriya (445) and Kumar Sangakkara (404) round off the top four list for most ODI games played. In fact, the aforementioned four names are the only players in ODI history to play 400+ games. 

Apart from Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Mohammad Azharuddin, there are four other Indians on the list. Former skipper MS Dhoni played 350 ODI matches, with his final game coming against New Zealand in the 2019 ODI World Cup. Rahul Dravid ended up with 344 ODI matches, while Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh played 311 and 304 matches, respectively. Amongst the current era batters, the next man to join the 300 ODI club is Mushfiqur Rahim with 274 matches and Rohit Sharma with 271 games.