Most Matches For India In All Formats

Arnav Chopra

Rohit, Dravid, Tendulkar, Kohli & Dhoni & (Source: @ICC/X.com, @BCCI/X.com)Rohit, Dravid, Tendulkar, Kohli & Dhoni & (Source: @ICC/X.com, @BCCI/X.com)

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Wearing the iconic blue Indian jersey is a pride that many dream to achieve during their career. However, there are a few who turned out for the Men in Blue in all three formats, ending up as heroes for their side.

In the glorious history of Indian cricket, many cricketers who have donned the blue jersey. However, only some have been unable to achieve greatness. Conversely, there have been a few who have made their nation proud with record appearances in all three formats for the Indian cricket side.

While some have been able to represent India in a record number of matches, others have done a significant job in all three formats, time and time again. Therefore, in this article, we will have a look at the players who have featured in most matches for India combined in all three formats of the game.

5. Rohit Sharma - 499 Matches*

At number five on this list is India's current ODI and Test captain, Rohit Sharma, who is just one game away from the record figure of 500 after featuring in 499 matches so far in his overall international career that began in the year 2007.

The right-hander, who started as a middle-order batter, is now one of the finest openers in world cricket. In his combined career, Sharma has amassed 19,624 runs at a cumulative average of 42.11, while he has scored a total of 49 centuries in all forms of the game for India. 

Additionally, Rohit, who took India to the 2024 T20 World Cup, has five centuries in the T20I format for India. Moreover, with 11,921 runs in 272 ODIs, he is also one of the top-notch run-scorers.

4. Rahul Dravid - 504 Matches

The number four player on this list features 'The Wall', Rahul Dravid. Dravid, who began his international career in the year 1996, went on to play until 2012. During this time, he featured in a total of 504 matches for the Men in Blue, while scoring a total of 24,641 runs at an average of 45.57.

Dravid was one of the most celebrated players of his time with 164 Test appearances powered by 344 ODI games, while he played a lone T20I match. In Test cricket, Dravid was a beast with 13,288 runs, whereas in one-day cricket, he was at his best with 10,889 runs.

3. MS Dhoni - 535 Matches

Number three on this list goes to former Indian World Cup-winning skipper, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who retired after the 2019 World Cup. Debuting in the year 2004, MS Dhoni went on to play 535 matches for the Indian side where he amassed a total of 17,921 runs while averaging 44.74 across formats.

The legendary Indian wicketkeeper batter was the most reliable player in ODI cricket with 10,773 runs in 350 one-day matches. While he made 90 Test appearances to score 4,876 runs, whereas he played 98 matches in the shortest format with 1,617 runs during his career.

Dhoni, who helped India lift the 2011 World Cup, was also at the helm when the Men in Blue were champions in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 alongside the 2013 Champions Trophy.

During Dhoni's reign as a skipper, India remained one of the most decorated sides in Test cricket as they remained at the number one position around the year 2010. What separated Dhoni from the others was his astute leadership and tactical mind that helped get the best out of other players, while he was a threat behind the stumps for batters.

2. Virat Kohli - 550 Matches*

Legend in his own right, India's Virat Kohli is at number two on this list, as he has featured in 550 matches for the Men in Blue so far. Kohli, who began his Indian career in 2008, is a force to reckon with with the bat, where he has scored 27,598 runs at an average of 52.36, while having 82 centuries across formats after his name.

Virat, who hails from Delhi, has represented India in 123 Test matches, while he has made 301 & 125 appearances in ODI & T20Is, respectively so far. Kohli has dominated in all three formats, where ODI has been his forte with 14,180 runs at an average of 58.11, while striking at 93.35, to go along with his 51 centuries.

On the other hand, he has 9,923 runs in Test cricket, while having 4,188 runs in the duration of his T20I career. With a few more years left under his belt, expect the Indian veteran to gather a lot more appearances in his tally.

1. Sachin Tendulkar - 664 Matches

Without any uncertainty, the number one position on the table is retained by the greatest, Sachin Tendulkar, with a career spanning over 24 years. Tendulkar, who made his debut in 1998, went on to play until 2013 and represented India in a whopping 664 matches, where he managed to gather an unbelievable 34,357 runs at a cumulative average of 48.52.

To go along with that, Tendulkar was a beast with the bat, as he scored a record-breaking 100 centuries in international cricket. Tendulkar, who loved Test cricket the most, featured in 200 Test matches, where he scored 15,921 runs at an average of 53.78, while he had 51 centuries in the format.

On the other hand, he made his ODI appearances in 463 games to score 18,426 runs at an average of 44.83, where he struck runs at a strike rate of 86.23. Also, he was also the first player in the format to score a double-century. Meanwhile, he also made a lone T20I appearance against South Africa in 2006.

Legendary Tendulkar bid adieu to the game in 2013 against West Indies at his home ground, Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, where he ended his celebrated career after two long decades. Moreover, even 10 years after his retirement, the Master Blaster's record of playing in 664 matches in the blue jersey remains unbroken.