Fielding in cricket doesn’t get as much attention as batting and bowling, but these players with the Most Catches in ODI have made it just as exciting.
Mahela Jayawardene holds an impressive record of 218 catches in 448 matches, with a catch-per-innings ratio of 0.49. Close behind him are other cricketers holding catch records, including Ricky Ponting with 160 catches and Mohammad Azharuddin with 156 catches.
In this blog, I’ll cover the top 10 most catches in ODI history along with players’ details like how many matches they played and any other wins as well.
Most Catches In ODI History
Below, I’ve shared the top 10 players with a record of the most catches in ODI, including matches they played.
| SR. NO. | Player name | Team | Catches in ODI | Matches Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 218 | 448 |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | India | 167 | 208 |
| 3 | Ricky Ponting | Australia | 160 | 375 |
| 4 | Mohammad Azharuddin | India | 156 | 334 |
| 5 | Ross Taylor | New Zealand | 142 | 236 |
| 6 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 140 | 463 |
| 7 | Stephen Fleming | New Zealand | 133 | 280 |
| 8 | Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 131 | 328 |
| 9 | Younis Khan | Pakistan | 130 | 265 |
| 10 | Muttiah Muralidaran | Sri lanka | 130 | 350 |
Now that you know all the top 10 most catches players in ODI let’s see each player’s records in detail.
1. Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) – 218 Catches
Mahela Jayawardene, a former Sri Lankan cricketer, is renowned for his exceptional fielding skills. He made his ODI debut in 1997 and played until 2015, participating in 448 matches.
During his career, he set a record by taking 218 catches, the most by any player in ODI history.
Additionally, He played his first test against England in January 1998. Also, He accumulated 218 catches across all formats of international cricket.
2. Virat Kohli (India) – 167 Catches
Virat Kohli, from Delhi, India, made his One Day International debut against Sri Lanka on August 18, 2008. While widely known for his batting achievements, Kohli has also been one of the most reliable fielders of his generation.
As of 2026, Kohli has played 308 ODI matches and taken 167 catches, placing him among the top fielders in ODI history. His sharp reflexes, safe hands, and athleticism have consistently made him a key presence in the field.
3. Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 160 Catches
Ricky Ponting is an Australian former cricketer. Ponting is known for his sharp reflexes and consistency in the fielding position.
He made his One Day International (ODI) debut in 1995 and played until 2012. During his career, Ponting participated in 375 ODIs, taking 160 catches.
He also captained Australia from 2002 to 2012, leading the team to numerous victories and many catches.
4. Mohammad Azharuddin (India) – 156 Catches
Mohammad Azharuddin is from Hyderabad, India, and is a former cricketer known for his exceptional fielding skills. He made his Test debut in 1984 and played until 2000, participating in 99 Test matches and 334 One Day Internationals (ODIs).
Azharuddin took 156 catches throughout his ODI career and ranked fourth globally for the most catches in ODIs.In addition to his fielding prowess, Azharuddin was a prolific batsman, amassing 9,378 runs in ODIs with an average of 36.92.
5. Ross Taylor (New Zealand) – 142 Catches
Ross Taylor, a cricketer from New Zealand, made his One Day International (ODI) debut in 2006. Throughout his ODI career, Ross Taylor took 142 catches. Known for his ability to take crucial catches under pressure, Taylor became one of the most reliable fielders in New Zealand’s cricket history.
Taylor’s contributions were not limited to ODIs; he also had a significant impact in Test cricket, where he took 163 catches over 112 matches.
Combining his Test, ODI, and T20I performances, Taylor accumulated a total of 351 catches, ranking him third globally for the most catches across all formats.
6. Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 140 Catches
Sachin Tendulkar, hailing from Mumbai, India, made his ODI debut in 1989 and retired in 2012. In ODIs, Tendulkar took 140 catches. This makes him the third-highest Indian player with the most catches in ODIs.
Apart from his fielding, he had a record 18,426 runs in ODIs at an average of 44.83. Combining his Test and ODI performances, he amassed a total of 255 catches in international cricket
7. Stephen Fleming (New Zealand) – 133 Catches
Stephen Fleming, a left-handed batsman and former captain of New Zealand, made his Test debut in March 1994 against India, scoring 92 runs. He debuted in One Day Internationals (ODIs) on March 25, 1994.
Over his career, Fleming played 280 ODI matches, 8,007 runs and 133 catches. Combining his fielding records across all international formats, Fleming has an amazing total of 306 catches.
8. Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 131 Catches
Jacques Kallis, a South African all-rounder, made his ODI debut in 1996 and played until 2014. Over his 328-match career, he took 131 catches.
This places him fourth on the list of cricketers with the most catches in international cricket.
9. Younis Khan (Pakistan) – 130 Catches
Younis Khan made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in February 2000. Over 15 years, he played 265 ODIs.
He took 130 catches in ODIs, ranking him ninth globally for the most catches in this format. Combining his performances across all international formats, Younis Khan secured a total of 281 catches.
10. Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) – 130 Catches
Muttiah Muralitharan made his ODI debut against India on August 12, 1993. Over a career spanning 18 years, he played 350 ODIs.
Moreover, he holds the record for the most catches in ODIs, totaling 130. Moreover, Muralitharan has a total of 203 catches across all formats.
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Conclusion: Mahela Jayawardene Holds The Record Of Most Catches In ODI
Mahela Jayawardene holds the record for the most catches in One Day International (ODI) cricket, with 218 catches in 448 matches. Other great players like Virat Kohli have a record of 167 catches and Ricky Ponting also made their mark with an impressive 160 catches.
Looking to the future, we can expect even more incredible fielding records to be broken as the game grows!
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