ICC World Cup 2019: MS Dhoni Becomes The Second Indian To Play 350 ODIs

India take on 2015 runners-up New Zealand in the first semifinal of the ICC World Cup 2019 on July 9 (Tuesday) at the Old Trafford in Manchester. It will be 350th ODI match for the veteran wicket-keeper batsman MS Dhoni since making his debut in 2004 against Bangladesh.

Dhoni becomes the second Indian to play 350 ODIs

The former India skipper has been a crucial component of the squad in the limited overs squad over the last decade. Although he hasn’t had a great ICC World Cup 2019, skipper Virat Kohli hs backed him, and one good match will change Dhoni’s fortune. He has failed to score quick runs and has been at the heart of the critics. With MS Dhoni playing his last World Cup, the greatest finisher will look to finish his World Cup career in style giving India their third World Cup trophy on July 14.

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Meanwhile, the game against New Zealand will make MS Dhoni’s 350th ODI match. He will become only the second Indian after Sachin Tendulkar to play 350 ODIs. Furthermore, Dhoni, who has played 349 ODIs so far – 346 for India and 3 for Asia XI – will become the 10th cricketer to play 350 ODIs in the world after Tendulkar, who has played the most number of ODIs (463), Mahela Jayawardena(448), Sanath Jayasuriya(445), Kumar Sangakkara (404), Shahid Afridi (398), Inzamam-ul-Haq (378), Ricky Ponting (375), Wasim Akram (356) and Muttiah Muralitharan (350).

Moreover, MS Dhoni will also become the first cricketer to play 350 ODIs at a stretch as a designated wicket-keeper. Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara has played more games than him, but he played his first 44 matches as a specialist batsman.

MS Dhoni will look to better at a strike-rate who has attracted a lot of criticisms for his slow innings and finish his World Cup career on a high.