India's 1,000th men's ODI set to take place in world's largest cricket stadium

Boland Park, as hosts for India’s first match against South Africa early next year, was to be the venue for the historic event on January 11. But with the postponement of the ODI tour to New Zealand later this year that honour now falls to Ahmedabad

The Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad - the world’s largest cricket stadium - is all set to be the venue for India’s historic 1,000th men's one-day international on February 6 next year.

India, who are currently on 996 matches, will become the first team to reach this landmark when they take on West Indies. 

Only Australia on 958 and Pakistan on 936 matches respectively are anywhere near the mark. Sri Lanka are in fourth place way behind with 867 while West Indies have played 831. 

Boland Park in Paarl, as hosts for India’s first match against South Africa early next year, was to be the venue for the historic event on January 11. But with the postponement of the ODI tour to New Zealand later this year that honour now falls to Ahmedabad.   

India were slated to play three ODIs in New Zealand as part of the inaugural 2023 ICC World Cup Super League, but last week the tour was postponed to late 2022 due to the packed schedule for both countries and tight Covid-19 restrictions in place in New Zealand. 

“We’ve got to be mindful of players coming back from a long winter and we’ve got to give them time at home as well,” NZC chief executive David White had said. 

^{The Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera will stage India's 1,000th men's ODI}

New Zealand are in any case playing in India in mid-November but that series will consist of two Tests and three T20Is.

However, with the spread of Covid-19 across the world showing little sign of abating and with cancellations, postponements and forfeitures becoming increasingly frequent, there remains a shadow of doubt over when and where the 1,000th match may actually be finally staged.   

As far as win percentage is concerned, among Test playing nations South Africa (634 matches) are fractionally on top with 63.57 per cent, Australia second on 63.36 and India third with 54.71 (518 won; 428 lost; 9 tied; 41 no result).  

Sachin Tendulkar has played the most matches with 463 and also holds the world record for most runs (18,426) and most centuries (49). 

The first ODI was played between Australia and England in Melbourne on 5 January 1971. These two nations were also the first to play a Test match, coincidentally at the same venue in 1877 and Australia emerged winners in both.

But while the Test match count currently stands at 2,433 (up to the recently concluded Oval Test between India and England), despite starting 94 years later, the current ODI count is over 4,300 - played by 28 teams in all, including three composite teams that are no longer active: ICC World XI, Asian Cricket Council XI and African XI.   

India, captained by the late Ajit Wadekar, played their maiden ODI at Headingley, Leeds on July 13, 1974, with England winning by four wickets. The first ODI on Indian soil was not staged till November 25, 1981 when England beat India by five wickets, coincidentally at Ahmadabad.

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