Most Runs in ODI Cricket History

Among the brightest stars in the great tapestry of cricket history, few shine as bright as that for most runs in ODI matches. From the sporting phenomenon’s late days in the nineteenth century to its modern epoch, cricketers have attracted their fans with skill, durability, and sheer grit at the crease. This century started in 1971 seen the legend changing the face of the game with his extraordinary skill. Cricket has, however, become a hundredfold more exciting and action-packed since the advent of the limited overs format.

Games that earlier used to take several days are now completed in one day or even in a few hours. The most widely followed format in limited-overs cricket is the One-Day International. As the name itself suggests, a regular ODI game is played in one day and, of course, allows cricket players to showcase their skills without investing too much time on the side of the enjoyment of spectators. The most exciting phase of a cricket match is batting, and virtually all the spectators love to see their favourite batsmen hitting the ball across the stands. 

Join us as we mark the Records, milestones, and memorable moments that have catapulted these cricketing icons through the pages  Most Runs in ODI.

List Of The Top 10 Players With The Most Runs in ODI Cricket Match

Players With Most Runs in ODI

Sachin Tendulkar (1989-2012)

Sachin Tendulkar is an all-time legend for India, and the name often surfaces in the conversation about the best cricket player ever. Tendulkar sits atop the list for the highest run scorer both in cricket as well as in ODI and Test formats. In over two decades of a glorious career, Tendulkar scored 18,426 runs in 463 games that are never going to be equalled. Tendulkar also hit the first ODI double century and has made 49 hundred in the format as well.

Kumar Sangakkara (2000-2015)

Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara is one of the best wicket-keeper batsman in the world. in the history of cricket. Sangakkara led the Sri Lanka cricket team to the World Cup final in 2011 as a captain. As a batman, he was also pretty impressive in the 2015 version of the World Cup. Kumar Sangakkara is the second-highest run-getter overall and, in the 50-over format. Kumar Sangakkara has scored 14,234 runs in 404 matches with a highest score of 169 and managed 25 hundreds in his career.

Virat Kohli (2008-2024)

Even after 15 years of a successful career is not aged anymore Virat Kohli is the best batsman in cricket today. The stats show that Kohli is the fifth-highest run scorer in ODI and International Cricket. He has hit 80 centuries as well abroad, and internationally. He is an upper-middle-order batsman and the former captain of the Indian cricket team. Kohli has scored 13,906 runs in ODI in only 295 games.

Ricky Ponting (1995-2012)

Ricky Ponting is another who finds his place in the ICC Hall of Fame and is a god when it comes to cricket for the Australians. Ponting was a fierce batsman at the top order and a great fielder, and he led his country to win the World Cup two years consecutively. He is one of the greatest captains cricket has seen and the fourth-highest run-getter in International Cricket. In 375 matches, Ponting accrued 13,704 runs with 30 centuries included in them.

Sanath Jayasuriya (1989-2011)

Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka made a name for the One-Day International format of cricket when he and his teammates were unbeaten in a manner that lit up the victory with explosive playing style and match-winning performances. Jayasuriya was an all-rounder who played a key role in Sri Lanka’s winning World Cup in 1996. Jayasuriya scored 13,430 runs in 445 games.

Mahela Jayawardene (1998-2015)

Mahela Jayawardene in combination with Kumar Sangakkara was a great duo for Sri Lanka as the pair would churn out runs in very generous quantities. He is a classical right-handed batter and ex-Sri Lankan captain, very classy in approach. Jayawardene has been an integral player of the team that won the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 and has also reached the finals of the 2007 Cricket World Cup, 2011 Cricket World Cup, 2009 ICC World Twenty20, and 2012 ICC World Twenty20. He has scored 12650 runs in ODIs which has made him reach the number 6 position in the list of all-time highest run-getters in ODIs.

Inzamam-ul-Haq (1991-2007)

Pakistan’s top ODI run scorer is Inzamam. Also called “Inzi,” he was a former Pakistani cricketer who captained the Pakistan national cricket team. He is one of the best middle-order batsmen in cricket history. And, indeed, the first and only Pakistani batsman to score 20,000 international runs. With 11739 runs in 378 ODIs, he stands at no. 7 on this list of all-time most run scorers in ODIs.

Jacques Kallis (1996-2014)

Nobody comes even close to Jacques Kallis in longevity and sheer numbers, there have been several all-rounders in the game of cricket. Kallis has 11579 runs in ODIs at 44.36 of average which makes him the 8th highest run scorer in ODI. Amazingly, he has 273 ODI wickets, just 9 less than Zaheer Khan’s 282. Jacques Kallis is one of the greatest all-rounders the game of cricket has ever seen.

Sourav Ganguly (1992-2007)

Sourav Ganguly completely changed the complexion of Indian cricket. He ignited the fire of aggression in the Indian Cricket Team, a subdued team. The present hostile, aggressive, flamboyant, and equally confident Indian cricket team is today standing on the base created by this Prince of Kolkata. The prince is considered the god of offside, thanks to his cuts and drives. He is at number 9 in the list of all-time highest run scorers in ODIs with 11363 runs in the ODI account.

Rahul Dravid (1996-2011)

Rahul Dravid is the head coach of the Indian cricket team. Popularly nicknamed “The Wall” for his unflappable and dependable batting, Rahul is one of the cricketing giants of India. While he may be remembered more for his Test cricket spell, one should not forget that he was also resourceful in the much shorter ODI format. With 10889 runs, he sits at number 10 on this list.

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