Shikhar Dhawan surpasses Sourav Ganguly, becomes 2nd fastest Indian to reach 6,000 ODI runs

Shikhar Dhawan is now the second fastest Indian to score 6,000 runs in ODI cricket. Dhawan achieved the unique distinction in the opening ODI of the three-match series against Sri Lanka at R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The 35-year-old kicked off the encounter 23 runs away from the milestone of 6,000 ODI runs, going on to chase down the runs gradually. Dhawan surpassed legendary Indian cricketer Sourav Ganguly who was previously the second fastest Indian to reach the landmark. Ganguly completed 6,000 ODI runs in 147 innings, with the 35-year-old reaching the same in 140 innings. Dhawan is overall the tenth Indian player to achieve the feat.

Kohli the fastest Indian to accumulate 6,000 ODI runs

Team India skipper Virat Kohli holds the record for being the fastest Indian to the landmark, having accumulated the tally in 136 innings. Hashim Amla is the fastest cricketer overall to achieve the unique milestone, with 123 innings to his credit. Kohli is the second quickest overall. Kane Williamson and Dhawan are placed third and fourth on the list of quickest players to complete 6,000 ODI runs, having reached the landmark in 139 and 140 innings respectively.

Legendary West Indies cricketer Vivian Richards and England skipper Joe Root occupy the next two spots, after accumulating the tally in 141 innings apiece. Sourav Ganguly and AB de Villiers are tied next in the list, having reached the landmark in 147 innings apiece.

Dhawan further became the fastest player to score 1,000 ODI runs against Sri Lanka, during the course of the same innings. He achieved the landmark in 17 innings. The opener had earlier become the oldest Indian to make his international captaincy debut, since Hemu Adhikari in 1959. The oldest captaincy debutant for any side is 44 years and 359 days when Norman Gifford captained England against Australia in Sharjah in 1985. When it comes to Asia, Rahul Sharma of Hong Kong was 43 years 306 days when he captained the side against Sri Lanka in the 2004 Asia Cup tournament.

New record set by Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav made their ODI debuts in the encounter. The former became the second Indian player to make his ODI debut on his birthday. The first was Gursharan Singh. Gursharan’s only ODI came on his 27th birthday. It was against Australia in Hamilton in 1990.

Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal partnered for the first time since the 2019 ICC World Cup group stage encounter against England in Edgbaston. Both Chahal and Kuldeep were taken to the cleaners by Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow. Since then, India have not played both the spinners in matches. Chahal has been preferred in limited-overs cricket while Kuldeep has fallen down the pecking order.

The hosts handed a debut to Bhanuka Rajapaksa.

Playing 11s for India and Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Avishka Fernando, Minod Bhanuka(w), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Isuru Udana, Dushmantha Chameera, Lakshan Sandakan.

India (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan(c), Prithvi Shaw, Ishan Kishan(w), Manish Pandey, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav.