5 Indian cricketers who have scored 50+ runs and picked up four or more wickets in the same ODI
The demand for all-rounders in cricket is on the rise as team managements look to maximize the full potential of all 11 players.
While Test cricket still demands specialist batters and bowlers, the same is not the case with ODIs and T20Is. Some "bits and pieces" players have managed to make a name for themselves in the game's shorter formats. The ideal all-rounder, such as Ben Stokes and Hardik Pandya, excels in both roles.
Taking four or more wickets and scoring a fifty in an ODI match is a sign of being a perfect all-rounder. The 50-over format has witnessed as many as 42 different players who have produced this rare feat in their careers.
On that note, let's take a look at five Indians who have scored 50+ runs and taken four or more wickets in an ODI.
#5 Kris Srikkanth - 70 & 5/27 vs New Zealand in 1988
Long before Virender Sehwag, India boasted a naturally aggressive opener in the form of Kris Srikkanth. His batting style was both innovative and entertaining.
While Srikkanth's role was to provide India with express starts, he also bowled a fair bit of off-spin in ODIs. His best bowling performance came in the first ODI of a five-match series against New Zealand at home in 1988.
The former skipper took a five-wicket haul to help restrict the visitors to 196. Srikkanth then led the way during the chase with a match-winning 87-ball 70. This remarkable all-round effort helped the home side win by four wickets with 22 balls remaining.
He became the first Indian and the third player ever to score a half-century and take four-plus wickets in an ODI.
#4 Sourav Ganguly - in 1999 and 2000
One of the most inspiring skippers in world cricket, Sourav Ganguly could get under the skin of any opposition.
While Ganguly's batting exploits spoke for themselves, the right-arm medium pacer's bowling capabilities were highly rated. A 100 ODI wickets left no one in doubt that the former World No. 2 batsman was an effective one-day bowler.
The batting all-rounder is the only Indian on the list to have achieved this rare feat twice.
#OnThisDay in 1999 Sourav Ganguly show at Nagpur beat SL single handedly. He remained not out throughout out 50 overs on 130..& his spell of 4-0-21-4 made him only player to achieve this feat in single game. Dravid too scored 116 off 118 balls. They added 230 for 2nd wicket. https://t.co/QQXlj8VRxd
Ganguly first pulled off the first one during a tri-series game between India and Sri Lanka at Nagpur in 1999. Batting first, Ganguly (130*) stitched together a partnership of 236 runs with Rahul Dravid (116). India posted a target of 288 for their neighboring rivals.
After Ajit Agarkar's three quick wickets, skipper Mohammed Azharuddin handed Ganguly the ball. Ganguly took four wickets for 21 runs to break Sri Lanka's back and help India to an 80-run win.
Ganguly repeated the feat the following year against Zimbabwe in Kanpur. Agarkar and Ganguly decimated the visitors' batting unit, the former grabbing four for 25 and the latter producing his maiden fifer (5/34).
The 166 chase proved to be a cakewalk for Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar (62). The left-handed opener remained unbeaten on 71 and India cruised past the total in 25 overs.
#3 Sachin Tendulkar - 141 & 4/38 vs Australia in 1998
The mighty Australian side of the late 1990s and 2000s were the team to beat, in any format. But Sachin Tendulkar always found a way to play well against them.
One of his nine ODI centuries against Australia came during the quarter-finals of the Wills International Cup in 1998. After being put in to bat first in Dhaka, Tendulkar played a remarkable innings of 141 in 128 deliveries to propel India past the 300-run mark.
It is indeed that Sachin Tendulkar's famous match against Australia in 1998 CT quarter-final.
141 runs with the bat
(Helped India recover from 8/2)
4/38 with the ball
(Helped Australia collapse from 194/4)
One of the best all-round knocks ever! twitter.com/dheeruutweets/… https://t.co/PXbcPhnPY7
Tendulkar, who bowled regularly during the early part of his career, also shined with his leg breaks. The wily spinner took as many as four scalps, including the all-important wickets of Steve Waugh, Michael Bevan, and Damien Martyn. Tendulkar helped India win the game by 44 runs and was also adjudged the Player of the Match.
#2 Yuvraj Singh - in 2008 and 2011
Yuvraj Singh would've walked into any white-ball team solely for his batting prowess and free-flowing strokeplay. His handy left-arm spin was a great asset for different skippers, especially for MS Dhoni. Whether batting, bowling, or fielding, the flamboyant Punjab lad did it all to the best of his abilities.
One of Yuvraj's best all-round performances came against England, against whom the left-hander loved to play. During the second ODI of a seven-match series against England in 2008, the hosts won the toss and elected to bat first in Indore.
When Yuvraj came to the crease, India were in massive trouble at 29/3. He bailed the side out of trouble, stitching together a brilliant partnership with Gautam Gambhir (70).
Even after Gambhir fell, Yuvraj continued his onslaught on the English bowlers, going on to score a brilliant 118 off 122 balls. Courtesy of this superlative knock, the hosts reached a competitive total of 292.
Despite everything he was going through, Yuvraj Singh was at his absolute best at the 2011 World Cup and was the key to India’s success 🌟🇮🇳🔥
#CricketTwitter https://t.co/L2GPCgLZdc
The then-27-year-old weaved his magic into his bowling as well, ripping through England's top order single-handedly. Yuvraj took four wickets, conceding just 28 runs in his 10 overs. Virender Sehwag chipped in with three as India won by 54 runs.
Yuvraj only became the second Indian to repeat this extraordinary feat, that too in an ICC World Cup match. A player must be exemplary to set this record in a World Cup game, and he managed so in 2011 against Ireland.
On a Bengaluru surface that had something in it for the spinners, the canny left-armer picked up his maiden five-wicket haul, giving away 31 runs to help restrict Ireland to 207. The home side found themselves in trouble at 100/4 when Yuvraj came up with a well-made 50* to take India home.
#1 Hardik Pandya - 50* & 4/24 vs England in 2022
Hardik Pandya is the latest entrant on the list, picking up four wickets and scoring a half-century in last Sunday's (July 17) third ODI against England in Manchester. This was the premier all-rounder's best white-ball performance in India's blues.
First, with his short-ball barrages, Pandya decimated the English batters. The right-arm pacer picked up four crucial wickets to break England's spine. Pandya dismissed Jason Roy and Ben Stokes in his first spell before returning to outfox Liam Livingstone and Jos Buttler within three balls.
Pandya then carried his bowling form into his batting and played a key role in the successful run-chase. The right-hander came to the crease when the side were struggling at 72/4.
Pandya stitched together a match-winning partnership of 133 runs with Rishabh Pant. Taking calculated risks, Pandya kept the scoreboard ticking over and raced to his eighth ODI fifty in just 43 balls. With the help of 10 boundaries, the flamboyant batter contributed a crunch 55-ball 71.
Hardik is also the first Indian and second overall, after Mohammad Hafeez of Pakistan, to achieve this rare all-round feat across all three formats in the same match.