Ranking Mushfiqur Rahim’s top 3 innings in ODI Cricket

Mushfiqur Rahim is arguably one of the finest cricketers in the history of Bangladesh. The Bogura-born star made his international debut in 2005 at the age of 18, and it did not take him long to become a mainstay for the Tigers across all formats with his impressive performances both behind and in front of the stumps. 

The keeper-batter is the only Bangladeshi player to win 150 international matches. A versatile batter who can bat anywhere in the middle and lower middle order, Rahim’s strong format is ODI. He has played 271 50-over matches to date and has scored 7792 runs – the second-highest by a Bangladeshi batter. As the right-hander turns 37 today (May 9), let us look at his top three performances in ODI cricket. 

Here are Mushfiqur Rahim’s top 3 innings in ODI cricket

3. 106(77) vs Pakistan, 2015, Dhaka

Catalyzed by a partnership of 178 between Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim, hosts Bangladesh registered a convincing 79-run win over Pakistan in Mirpur in April 2015. Electing to bat first, Bangladesh posted a score of 329 runs – their then-highest ODI total.

Opening batter Tamim scored 135-ball 132, while Mushfiqur slammed 106 off just 77 deliveries. Bangladesh had a sluggish start to their innings, but the two shifted the gears to amass 262 runs in their last 30 overs. In response, Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny took three wickets each and restricted the opponents to 250 runs.

2. 125(127) vs Sri Lanka, 2021, Dhaka

Riding on a superb ton from their former skipper, hosts Bangladesh took an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series over Sri Lanka in 2021. In a rain-curtailed encounter, Mushfiqur Rahim slammed his eighth ODI hundred to help the Tigers to a massive 103-run win (via DLS method).

Batting at No.4, Rahim hit 125 off 127 balls with 10 fours and stitched an 87-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Mahmudullah. In reply to Bangladesh’s 247 target, the visitors were restricted to 141/9 in 40 overs, thanks to Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mustafizur Rahman’s three-wicket haul.

1. 144(150) vs Sri Lanka, 2018, Dubai

Mushfiqur Rahim’s career-best ODI knock was against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup held in Dubai in 2018. Electing to bat first, Bangladesh was off to a shaky start, losing two wickets in the first over. However, Rahim’s 144 off 150 balls and Mohammad Mithun’s 63 off 68 helped them post 261 from 49.3 overs.

Both added 130+ runs for the third wicket. Rahim’s innings consisted of 11 fours and four sixes. Losing wickets at regular intervals, Sri Lanka were never in the game and were finally bowled out for 124 in the 36th over. Bangladesh won the match by 137 runs and Rahim won the Player of the Match award.