Most Runs In ODIs | Batting Stats – Top Run Getters In The History Of ODI Cricket

As in Test cricket, the first-ever ODI game was also played between England and Australia, with the hosts beating the visitors in Melbourne on January 5th, 1971. Since that afternoon, there have been 8,226 ODIs played in the history of the game, with as many as 27 countries and an ICC World XI side getting […]
By Kashish Chadha Jul 29, 2021, 00:06 IST

As in Test cricket, the first-ever ODI game was also played between England and Australia, with the hosts beating the visitors in Melbourne on January 5th, 1971. Since that afternoon, there have been 8,226 ODIs played in the history of the game, with as many as 27 countries and an ICC World XI side getting to play the format.

The ODIs have gone through their own process of evolution. What initially was a 60-overs per side game was established globally as the 50-over format in 1996. Many of the games were also played in the 55-over version in between those years. The ODIs began as a red-ball format, before the advancement of the white ball that can be used under artificial flights led to the proliferation of D/N matches.

Sachin Tendulkar struck a whopping 18,426 runs in ODI cricket.

The 50-over ODI format is played in the game’s most popular event – the ICC Cricket World Cup – which has been hosted quadrennially since its inception in 1975, barring the 1999 tournament that was played only three years after its previous edition in 1996.

From 2020 onwards, the qualifying teams for the 50-over World Cup are decided via the ICC Super League, featuring 12 full-member nations and associate country Netherlands.

Let us today have a look at the top 10 run-getters in ODI cricket.

Overall figures
Player Span Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 0  
SR Tendulkar (INDIA) 1989-2012 463 452 41 18426 200* 44.83 21368 86.23 49 96 20  
KC Sangakkara (Asia/ICC/SL) 2000-2015 404 380 41 14234 169 41.98 18048 78.86 25 93 15  
RT Ponting (AUS/ICC) 1995-2012 375 365 39 13704 164 42.03 17046 80.39 30 82 20  
ST Jayasuriya (Asia/SL) 1989-2011 445 433 18 13430 189 32.36 14725 91.20 28 68 34  
DPMD Jayawardene (Asia/SL) 1998-2015 448 418 39 12650 144 33.37 16020 78.96 19 77 28  
V Kohli (INDIA) 2008-2021 254 245 39 12169 183 59.07 13061 93.17 43 62 13  
Inzamam-ul-Haq (Asia/PAK) 1991-2007 378 350 53 11739 137* 39.52 15812 74.24 10 83 20  
JH Kallis (Afr/ICC/SA) 1996-2014 328 314 53 11579 139 44.36 15885 72.89 17 86 17  
SC Ganguly (Asia/INDIA) 1992-2007 311 300 23 11363 183 41.02 15416 73.70 22 72 16  
R Dravid (Asia/ICC/INDIA) 1996-2011 344 318 40 10889 153 39.16 15285 71.23 12 83 13

Most Runs In ODI Cricket

Sachin Tendulkar

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar sits comfortably on top of the run-charts as far as ODIs are concerned. Playing a whopping 463 matches in the format, Tendulkar scored 18,426 runs at an average of 44.83 with a strike-rate of 86.23. A batsman of unparalleled class, Tendulkar struck 49 ODI centuries to go with his 96 half-centuries.

Kumar Sangakkara

Sri Lankan great Sangakkara played 404 times in the ODI format and ended his illustrious career as only second to Tendulkar in the list of top run-makers. He made 14,234 ODI runs at an average of 41.98, carrying a strike-rate of 78.86. Sangakkara’s career tally featured 25 centuries and 93 fifties.

Ricky Ponting

Ponting, the Australian giant, is third on the list with 13,704 runs in his career from 375 matches at an average of 42.03 and strike-rate of 80.39. Ponting scored 30 centuries and 82 fifties in the format, where he also led Australia to two World Cup titles in 2003 and 2007.

Sanath Jayasuriya

Former Sri Lankan captain and left-hand batsman Jayasuriya is placed at fourth in the list of highest run-makers in ODI cricket. Starting off as a lower-order batsman, Jayasuriya later transformed into an impactful opener for Sri Lanka. He smashed 13,430 runs from 445 games at a strike-rate of 91.20.

Mahela Jayawardene

Another Sri Lankan, elegant right-hand batsman Jayawardene is fifth on the list, having scored 12,650 runs from 448 games at an average of 33.37 and strike-rate of 78.96. Jayawardene scored 19 centuries and 77 half-centuries, playing the role of a middle-order anchor batsman astutely.