5 players to play most ODIs for India at home
Playing any international match in your home country is always a special feeling for any cricketer. The home crowd is always behind their favourite cricketers cheering and motivating them up in all the matches on the ground. To appear in most of the matches on home soil is some achievement for these players.
Let’s take a look at the 5 cricketers to play most ODI matches for team India at home
5. Virat Kohli (101)
In the recent ODI series against West Indies, Virat Kohli became the fifth Indian to appear in 100 ODIs at home. Kohli, who made his debut in the 50-overs format in the year 2008 in Dambulla, had played his first ODI on home soil against Australia in 2009. His first century came against Sri Lanka in India in 2009. Kohli has played a total of 101 ODIs in India and his 200th ODI match overall also came in India when he took the field against New Zealand in Mumbai in 2017.
4. Yuvraj Singh (108)
Yuvraj Singh is the fourth name on the list as he played 108 matches in India. He appeared in his first home ODI against Zimbabwe in Cuttack in the year 2000. His last match on home soil came against the English side in Kolkata in 2017.
3. Mohammad Azharuddin (113)
Mohammad Azharuddin took the field for 113 matches in ODIs in India. He made his 50-overs debut in India only when he played against England in Bangalore in 1985. His 200th match in ODIs was also in India when he played against the Kiwis in Mumba in 1995. The last time he played in India was against South Africa in Baroda in 2000.
2. MS Dhoni (127)
MS Dhoni played his first match in India against arch-rivals Pakistan in Kochi in 2005. Since then, he appeared in 127 home one-dayers which is the second-most by an Indian. It was in India in 2011 when the team lifted the first ODI World Cup since 1983. MS Dhoni’s last home match came against Australia in Ranchi in 2019.
- Sachin Tendulkar (164)
Sachin Tendulkar played the most number of matches (463) in ODI history and played 164 games in India which is the most by an Indian player. He made his home debut against Sri Lanka in Nagpur in 1990. His 100th and 400th ODI appearances also came in India against New Zealand in Pune in 1995 and against Australia in Baroda in 2007 respectively. The last time Tendulkar walked onto the field in India was in the famous WC final in 2011 when his dream of winning a WC got over in his home country and the home ground itself.
