5 Players With The Longest ODI Careers In The History Of The Sport: With all the factors involved in cricket, securing a long career is incredibly difficult. There are several obstacles that prevent someone from having a long career, whether it be their own form, their team’s plan, or the fierce competition. The process is considerably more difficult in ODIs because every country prepares their team for the next World Cup. Nonetheless, a few cricketers have had ODI careers that have lasted for close to two decades. The five players with the longest ODI careers in the game’s history are discussed in this article.
5. Chris Gayle – 19 Years 337 Days*
Matches – 301* || First Match – 11 September 1999 || Last Match – 14 August 2019*
Chris Gayle, who is ranked No. 5 on this list, is one of the extremely few current cricket players who have made their debut in the previous century. Gayle has not yet announced his retirement from ODI cricket, therefore he could still climb the rankings, it is important to note.
When the teams were on a trip to Canada in 1999, The “Universe Boss” made his debut in the first ODI against India in Toronto. Gayle, who was batting at No. 4 and was then 19 years old, was dismissed on Robin Singh‘s eighth delivery. He may help the squad out by scoring just one run. That game was ultimately won by India by eight wickets.
4. Javed Miandad – 20 Years 272 Days
Matches – 233 || First Match – 11 June 1975 || Last Match – 9 March 1996
You may claim that Javed Miandad’s statistic of participating in 233 ODI matches is lacklustre for a player who was active in the scene for almost two decades. The cricketer, however, became a national hero because to his memorable performances.
Ironically, he was run-out in both his first and final game, which was in the 1996 World Cup against India. He was one among the first players to make “running between the wickets” a crucial component of batting skills. Miandad put up an amazing performance at the 1992 World Cup, scoring six fifties and helping his nation win its first championship despite numerous obstacles.
3. Sanath Jayasuriya – 21 Years 184 Days
Matches – 445 || First Match – 26 December 1989 || Last Match – 28 June 2011
Sanath Jayasuriya, a bold ODI opening batsman, spent a significant amount of time playing for Sri Lanka. He participated in five World Cup campaigns for Sri Lanka, and in 1996, they took home the trophy.
When he made his debut at age 20, Jayasuriya was thought of more as a bowling all-rounder. Jayasuriya made his ODI debut in 1989 during Sri Lanka’s tour of Australia. Only three runs were scored by the southpaw when batting at No. 5. That game was lost by Sri Lanka. Sanath scored two runs off of four deliveries in the final ODI of Sri Lanka’s 2011 tour of England and Scotland, but his team lost.
2. Mithali Raj – 21 Years 264 Days*
Matches – 214* || First Match – 26 June 1999 || Last Match – 17 March 2021*
The No. 2 player on this list and the lone female cricketer is Mithali Raj. Mithali, an Indian batting powerhouse, has played in over 20 ODIs by this point in her career. In order to extend her ODI career, she also retired from T20Is. The right-hander has stated in a few interviews that the 2022 World Cup will be her final competition. She can take the top spot on this ranking if she does that.
It was Mithali’s most memorable ODI debut. India scored 258 runs in 50 overs while batting first at Milton Keynes against Ireland without losing a wicket. Mithali led all scorers with 114 runs despite playing her first game, helping the nation win.
1. Sachin Tendulkar – 22 Years 124 Days
Matches – 463 || First Match – 15 November1989 || Last Match – 18 March 2012
Of course, it is Sachin Tendulkar who tops this list of cricketers with the longest ODI careers. Arguably the best ODI batsman to have walked out to the field, Sachin, over a career that lasted more than two decades, set up an array of records and statistics, which batsmen are still finding difficult to beat.
Sachin’s first and last ODI game were two contrasting matches. Both were against Pakistan, and while his debut was a low-scoring thriller, his last encounter was a high-scoring one. Batting at No.5, Sachin got off to his ODI career with a duck, but he bowed out of the format as a legend with a well-made 52 of 48 balls as an opener. While India lost in Sachin’s first outing, in his last clash, Team India defeated Pakistan by six wickets.
