Top 10 Cricketers With Most Catches in ODI – (Updated 2025)

Fielding in cricket does not get as much attention as batting and bowling, but it is an integral part of the game. In cricket, “Catches Win Matches” is a very common phrase. Over the years, the course of the fielding has changed the dynamics of the game. On many occasions, a catch from nowhere has shifted the momentum of the game. However, efficiency and consistency are important.

In modern-day cricket, fielding is an essential part of the game. Fielders with remarkable catching talents are valuable assets, greatly contributing to their team’s success. For the very same reason, the players need to be fit to showcase their best on the field for the country or in franchise cricket. In this article, we dive into cricketers with the most catches in ODI international cricket.

List of Players with Most Catches in ODI (Updated)

The list of the most catches in ODI international cricket consists of veterans of the game who have influenced the game in multiple ways, including Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Mahela Jayawardene, Virat Kohli, and others. These stalwarts of the field have played for their respective nations for a long period and hence were able to take so many catches in international cricket. Here are the top 10 cricketers who have the most catches in ODI career.

Which Player has the Most Catches in ODI?

Many players are there in ODI cricket have played more than 300 matches in their careers, and such experienced players have the best chance to take more catches due to the significant number of matches they have played. At the top of the list is the veteran Mahela Jayawardene from Sri Lanka. He has taken 218 catches in ODI and is by far ahead of Virat Kohli, who is in the second position with 161 catches. Let's find out who has the most catches in ODI cricket.

10. Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka

Muttiah Muralidaran is one of the finest spinners of all time and the best ODI bowler. The highest wicket-taker in test match cricket has been a true legend of the game. The off-spinner has picked 800 wickets in the longest format of the game. It is the highest by any bowler in a single format of the game. The record seems to be unachievable as of now. Over a career spanning 18 years, he played 350 ODIs.

The spinner, after topping the list for most wickets in test match cricket, also lists in the most catches in ODI cricket. The Sri Lankan legend has taken 130 catches in his prolonged career. Along with that, Muralidaran has a total of 203 catches across all formats. He is the only bowler on the list for the most catches in the ODI format of the game.

9. Younis Khan | Pakistan

The former Pakistan captain has been a sensational middle-order batter for the Men in Green. Younis Khan was considered the backbone of Pakistan’s cricket. He had a 15-year career playing for the country and featured in 265 ODIs. Over the years, he has scored 7249 runs in ODI cricket with a decent average of 31.24. He was a crucial member of Pakistan’s 2009 T20 World Cup-winning team.

Except for scoring runs, Younis Khan was an excellent fielder for the Men in Green. He had a safe pair of hands in the field. This is the reason he has 130 catches in ODIs and ranks 9th in the most catches in ODI. Younis Khan made 281 catches in all international formats.

8. Jacques Kallis | South Africa

Jacques Kallis is arguably the greatest all-rounder of all time. The South African is the only cricketer in the history of the game to score more than 10,000 runs and take over 250 wickets in both ODI and Test match cricket. He remains one of the stalwarts of cricket and has the most man-of-the-match awards to his name in the longest format of the game.

The Protea over his 328-match career has been the backbone of the side till 2014. He has been an amazing performer in the field as well, as the fans know about the fielding stories of South Africa over the years. Kallis has taken 131 catches in his prolonged career and has a total of 338 catches in international cricket, showcasing his exceptional fielding abilities.

7. Stephen Fleming | New Zealand

The former New Zealand captain was one of the finest batters of his era. The stylish left-hander is the first Kiwi batter to pass 7000 Test runs. He is also the team’s longest-serving and most successful captain. Fleming led the side to victory in 28 test matches and won the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy. It was also their first ICC trophy.

Fleming appeared in 280 one-day internationals, scoring 8,007 runs. He has taken 133 catches in his career and was known as a prolific slip catcher, with 306 catches in the international format of the game. Fleming is currently the head coach of the five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

6. Sachin Tendulkar | India

Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest batter of all time. The ‘God of Cricket’ had a career of 24 years, which is an impossible milestone for any cricketer to achieve. He has the record for scoring the most international hundreds to his name. The former India captain has scored 100 international centuries. The nearest to him is Virat Kohli with 81 tons. Sachin participated in 463 matches for India, showcasing unparalleled consistency, and scored 18,426 runs in ODI cricket.

Not only was he a run scorer, but also an excellent fielder for the side. Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar took 140 catches and which makes him the third-highest Indian player with the most catches in ODI. He has taken a total of 255 catches in international cricket.

5. Ross Taylor | New Zealand

Ross Taylor is the second-highest run-scorer for New Zealand in test match cricket and the highest in the ODI format. The Kiwi batter was the most dependable cricketer for the side in the middle order. Taylor is the most-capped player for New Zealand in international cricket, featuring in 438 matches across all three formats for the Black Caps. He surpassed Daniel Vettori to achieve the milestone.

Taylor was an excellent fielder throughout his career. The Kiwi was known for his ability to make key catches under pressure and made himself one of New Zealand’s most dependable fielders. He is listed in the fifth position for the most catches in ODI format. Ross Taylor has taken 142 catches in his 236 games in the 50-over format of the game.

4. Mohammed Azharuddin | India

Mohammed Azharuddin was regarded as one of the world’s top ODI batters and one of the greatest of his generation. His stylish batting and looks made him a global star among the fans. He had a massive fan following during his playing days. He scored 9,378 runs in ODIs at an average of 36.92. He appeared in 99 Tests and 334 One Day Internationals (ODIs) for the Men in Blue.

Azharuddin was known for his outstanding fielding abilities and had taken 156 catches in ODIs, and was ranked third in the world and the Indian player with the most catches in ODI. Despite all the controversies of match-fixing and bans, he has been an absolutely amazing fielder for the side.

3. Ricky Ponting | Australia

Ricky Ponting is one of the best cricketers in the world. He was a fantastic batter of his era. But he was also known as one of the best fielders the game has ever seen. The former Aussie skipper had quick reflexes, and his safe hands and aggressive fielding made him the most valuable asset to the team. He was also known as an exceptional slip fielder in test match cricket.

Ponting played 375 ODIs and he took 160 catches in the same format. It is also the third highest in the world ranking for most catches in ODI career. He also led Australia from 2002 to 2012, guiding the squad to countless triumphs and catches. He is the only skipper to have won two ICC ODI World Cup trophies.

2. Virat Kohli | India

The 'Chase Master' of modern-day cricket is the best batter in the white ball format of the game. Virat Kohli is known for his aggressive approach on and off the field. His consistency in white ball cricket has redefined the game with his capacity to perform in high-pressure scenarios of the game. The former India skipper has been a match-winner for the side over the years in the 50-over format.

Indian star Virat Kohli is the third-highest run-getter in the ODI format and just 271 runs behind the Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara. Kohli has taken 161 catches in 302 ODI matches, and it makes him the second-highest player with the most catches in ODI cricket. In the T20I format, he has taken 54 catches. This places him 9th on the all-time list for this format.

1. Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka

Mahela Jayawardene was the backbone of Sri Lankan cricket from the 2000s to 2015. He, along with Kumar Sangakkara, stitched many beautiful partnerships during their careers. He led Sri Lanka to the final of the 2007 World Cup but lost to a better Australian side. Similarly, he scored a hundred in the following 2011 World Cup final, but they lost once again.

Apart from scoring runs, Mahela was an excellent fielder and owns the record for most catches in ODI career in history. He has taken 218 catches in just 448 matches, showcasing his excellent fielding skills and consistency. Additionally, he has a catch-per-innings ratio of 0.49. This ranks him among the greatest fielders of all time as well.