Mahendra Singh Dhoni became the fifth Indian and 13th batsman overall to score 10,000 runs in the 50-over format when he came out to bat against Australia in the first one-day international in Sydney on Saturday. Dhoni needed just one run to join Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli on the elite list. Before the first ODI against Australia, Dhoni had accumulated a total of 10,173 runs in the 50-over format, however, the record also contained the 174 runs which he smashed against the Africa XI, while representing the Asia XI in a three-match rubber in 2007.
Interestingly, Dhoni and Kohli are now the only active members of the 1,0000 ODI runs club.
Sachin Tendulkar, Kumar Sangakkara, Ricky Ponting, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Inzamam ul-Haq, Jacques Kallis, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Brian Lara and Tillakaratne Dilshan make up the complete list.
Australia’s limited overs skipper Aaron Finch lauded the World Cup-winning captain for his decorated international career ahead of the ODI series opener on Friday.
“I think the way that he’s led India under the most extreme cricket scrutiny for a long time has been unbelievable,” Finch was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
“I think that he’s obviously one of the all-time greats of the game. It will be a sad day if he doesn’t come back to Australia after this tour, he’s a brilliant entertainer and someone that people pay money to come through the gates to watch.”