Team India is the first team to play 1000 ODI games. India plays its 1000th ODI against West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. India has enjoyed a fine record in ODI cricket, winning two World Cups apart from securing more than 500 ODI wins. As India plays its 1000th ODI, in this article, we take a look at India’s playing XI in the team’s 500th ODI encounter. The 500th ODI was the fifth game between India and England in the 2002 Natwest Series. The match took place in Chester-le-Street and the game ended without a result.
Openers: Sourav Ganguly (C) and Virender Sehwag
Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag were the openers in India’s 500th ODI. India was slowly starting to become a force in ODI cricket and Dada was at the helm of Team India. However, in this encounter, the southpaw did not do well. He got out in the very first ball, out LBW to England pacer Darren Gough.
Virender Sehwag scored 16 runs in 19 deliveries and in his trademark way, hit two boundaries in the beginning. However, he could not get going and got out early.
Middle-Order: Dinesh Mongia, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid (WK) and Mohammed Kaif
Dinesh Mongia played at No.3 for India in that game. The left-handed batsman scored 27 runs from 38 balls and helped India steady the ship after a few early wickets.
Yet again, it was a Sachin-Dravid partnership that bailed India out of trouble. Batting at No.4, Sachin scored a hundred while wicket-keeper Rahul Dravid made 82 runs from 117 runs. Rahul Dravid was associated with India’s 500th ODI as a player and for the 1000th ODI game, he is associated but as the Head Coach.
Mohammed Kaif was also part of the XI but did not get a chance to bat. However, at the end of the series, he had a crucial role to play in a memorable win.
All-Rounders: Yuvraj Singh
A youngster then, Yuvraj Singh was at his attacking best in that encounter. In just 19 deliveries, he scored 40 runs, a knock that included four boundaries and one six.
Bowlers: Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble and Ashish Nehra
Team India boasted of a solid bowling attack in the game. Legends such as Anil Kumble and Zaheer were part of the unit while Agarkar and Nehra, who enjoyed a great career with Team India, also played in that encounter.
However, the game ended in a no-result since the play was stopped after 12.3 overs in the England innings. Hence, the Indian bowlers did not get a chance to leave an impact. Zaheer Khan, though, picked the wicket of Marcus Trescothick before the play ended.
