In limited overs format of cricket scoring fifty or a ton is crucial for the team to get a good score. The top batters help to score runs, which are beneficial when defending. When a batter scores a fifty, it is an exciting moment for him as he is just 50 more runs away from converting it into a ton. Hence, scoring a fifty is vital for batters. Here, we look at the top 10 Indian cricketers who have achieved the most fifties in ODI matches.
1. Suresh Raina - 36 Fifties
Suresh Raina was the backbone of the middle order for the Indian team. Raina handled the team from collapsing a lot of times when the situation was tight. Raina is also considered the best fielder during his time with the Indian team. Raina was an aggressive left-hand middle-order batsman. Raina has scored 36 fifties in his ODI career.
2. Shikhar Dhawan – 39 Fifties
Shikhar Dhawan is a left-handed opening batsman for India. Dhawan scored the most number of ODI centuries in 2013. It also shows that Dhawan is a fantastic limited-over cricketer. Dhawan is very consistent in scoring runs, as he has 39 fifties in his ODI career.
3. Rohit Sharma – 51 Fifties
Rohit Sharma is an aggressive opener and current Indian Cricket team captain. Rohit holds the record for the highest individual score in ODI innings. Rohit has always been a nightmare for bowlers as he plays aggressively. Rohit has scored 51 Fifties in his ODI career till now.
4. Yuvraj Singh – 52 Fifties
Yuvraj Singh was one of the best middle-order batsmen India could ever have. Yuvraj played a crucial role in winning the 2011 ODI World Cup for India. Yuvraj holds the record for having six sixes in an over. Yuvraj Singh makes his way into this list with 52 Fifties.
5. Mohammed Azharuddin – 58 Fifties
Mohammed Azharuddin was a former captain of the Indian cricket team. Azharuddin was a much more aggressive batsman than others at his time. This can also be proven by the fact that he had 58 Fifties in his ODI career. Azharuddin also scored a century in just 74 balls in 1996.
6. Virat Kohli – 65 Fifties
Virat Kohli is the greatest cricketer in the current era. Virat has broken many records. He is also known as "Record Breaker". Virat has single-handedly won many tough matches for India. Virat is a balanced who plays according to the situation he is in. Virat has scored many runs in his ODI career, which includes 65 fifties. These fifties play an essential role in making him a great batsman.
7. Sourav Ganguly – 71 Fifites
Sourav Ganguly, also known as Dada, is a former Indian Captain. Ganguly was also a highly skilled batsman known for his elegant stroke play and ability to score runs quickly. Ganguly has scored 11363 runs in his ODI career,including his 71 fifties. This makes him stand at number 4 on this list.
8. MS Dhoni – 72 Fifties
MS Dhoni is one of the most beloved cricketers in India. Dhoni has a fan base across India and of all age groups. Dhoni was also known for his mastermind abilities, which we saw whenever India was in harsh conditions. Dhoni is also the best ODI finisher in India. Despite playing at low positions, Dhoni has 72 Fifties in his ODI career.
9. Rahul Dravid – 82 Fifties
Rahul Dravid is also known as "The Wall" of the Indian cricket team because of his immense defense. Rahul has been one of the most successful batsmen for Indian cricket team. Dravid played 344 ODI matches for India, in which he scored over 10,000 runs. Dravid was known for his play in test cricket only, but later, he improved and became a great limited-overs batsman. Dravid has 12 centuries and 83 fifties in his career. Dravid is only behind one person from scoring the most fifties in ODI for India.
10. Sachin Tendulkar – 96 Fifities
And on the top of the list is the name you will find everywhere in any batting record, the God of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar. Sachin is regarded as the best batsman in the whole world. Sachin has some extraordinary records, such as 100 centuries in his career. Sachin has some records which sometimes seem unbreakable by anyone. That is also the reason he is the most beloved cricketer. Sachin has a lot of fifties in his ODI career, 96 fifties. Just like the other records of Sachin, this one also looks unbreakable.
