Stats: MS Dhoni completes 500 appearances in International cricket

MS Dhoni will don the gloves in the 2nd Twenty20 International against England on the eve of his 37th birthday in Cardiff where India will look to seize the series. Dhoni has been pivotal to Team India’s success even after giving up the captaincy having led India in a record number of matches. He will be a crucial aspect in this limited-overs leg of the England tour with his glove work given the home team batsmen struggle against wrist spinners.

Dhoni is well known for his lightning quick reactions and he stumped the exit of Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root in the first game on consecutive deliveries who were deceived by Kuldeep Yadav. With those two dismissals, Dhoni now holds the record for most number of stumpings in T20I cricket. The former Indian skipper will add one more record under his belt when he steps on to the field in Cardiff. This T20I game is Dhoni’s 500th game across the three formats in International cricket.

MS Dhoni now has featured in 92 T20Is, 90 Test matches and 318 ODIs including the three for the Asia XI in 2007. Thus, he became the 9th player and 3rd Indian to feature in as many as 500 matches at International level. He is also the first player to feature in 500 International matches as a wicketkeeper. Dhoni also holds the record for the most number of matches as captain in International cricket as he led India in 331 matches across the three formats.

Seven players among the nine to have played 500 International games are from Asia. Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting are the only two names from the other parts of the world. Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq appeared in 499 International matches before retiring. Dhoni will be the 3rd player from India to enter this list after Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.

Tendulkar holds the record for most International appearances as he featured in 664 matches despite playing only one T20I. Dhoni has some pleasant memories attached to the Sophie Gardens in Cardiff that will host his 500th International game. His fastest fifty in International cricket off 26 balls came in an ODI at this venue in 2011. India’s road to CT13 victory began in Cardiff when they faced South Africa in the tournament opener and later defeated the Lankans in the semis.

Here are the players who have featured in 500 international matches:

(Stats updated till toss in England-India 2nd T20I)

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