Indian batsmen involved in the most ODI century partnerships

For long, it has been a norm that batting partnerships are the catalyst in cricket, they are the cornerstone of the success a team aspires for.

Crucial stands for different wickets, more often than not, define the eventual score, which in turn translates into the result of the match.

Now, let us take a look at 5 prolific Indian batsmen involved in the most century partnerships in One Day Internationals.

#5 MS Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the hitch town hit man entered Indian cricket back in 2004 and has left such an everlasting impression that it will be difficult to emulate his feats in the near future.

The long-haired brash young man toned down not only in his appearance but along the way camouflaged into several roles, all the while winning matches for his side.

A leader with unparalleled pedigree, Dhoni has featured in as many as 47 century partnerships for India. This number assumes importance primarily due to the fact that he has spent a major chunk of his career playing in the lower order.

In his career, he has played 318 ODI matches so far and has scored 9967 runs at an average of 51.37.

#4 Rahul Dravid

If MS Dhoni is all about style, Rahul Dravid was all about being suave, being a silent warrior, being whatever his team wanted from him.

He was touted as a Test match specialist, he never shot back with words, but went back, worked on his game, added an arsenal of strokes and came back roaring to serve as one of India’s all-time ODI batsman too.

With a solid base, solid technique and unflappable temperament, Dravid became an indispensable member of the Indian ODI setup.

Generally, he batted at number three, but according to the demands of the team, he slipped down the order plenty of times, all the time featuring in as many 56 century ODI partnerships.

In 344 ODI matches, Dravid scored 10889 runs at an average of 39.16.

#3 Virat Kohli

In many ways, Virat Kohli is a reflection of new India; loud, brash, unapologetic, and yet, mighty effective, yet a match-winner, an individual who marches along, conquering records.

His ODI career is still not very old, but such has been his dominance that he already features in 59 century partnerships in coloured clothing.

With 35 ODI centuries, Kohli is on a solo march to not only breach all records but smash them into the ground and trample them with his own insurmountable numbers.

He leads India in all the three formats and this has only elevated him, it has taken his passion of winning to unprecedented levels. These numbers are mere milestones in his career, he is not even counting them!

#2 Sourav Ganguly

These days, people are often reminded of a certain Sourav Ganguly when they utter the words, Virat Kohli.

The former Indian captain was fiercely competitive, he was ruthless, he wanted to win, and with the bat, he was an artist and Indian cricket was blessed to have his services.

The southpaw was involved in as many as 66 century ODI partnerships and in the process, emerged as India’s leading batsman at the top of the order.

His ODI career spanned 311 ODIs in which he scored 22 centuries and 72 half-centuries including numerous match-winning efforts.

#1 Sachin Tendulkar

Perhaps, the most complete batsman to have graced the cricket field, Sachin Tendulkar took an entire nation with him, carried hopes, seldom faltered, won matches, gave countless memories to relive, several others to cling on to.

A legend of the game, Sachin mastered the ODI format, better than anyone during his era and in the 463 matches he featured in, the Mumbaikar was involved in 99 century ODI partnerships, a majority of which were match-winning efforts.

Along the way, he accumulated 49 centuries and gave India countless moments to rejoice, celebrate, and when the dust settled, those very moments made the entire nation not only thank him but miss him!