ODI cricket brought a revolution in international cricket when it was first introduced in 1971. From a Test match that could go long for five days and still end in a draw, ODI cricket could end on one day with a result.
In its history of five decades, ODI cricket has produced so many memorable moments by some of the greatest players of the format. In the following listicle, we will have a look at the top 10 highest run-scorers in ODI cricket.
Most runs in ODI cricket
10. Rahul Dravid – 10889 runs
Former Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid is known as Test specialist but is also the 10th highest run-scorer in ODIs. The former wicketkeeper-batter has scored 10889 runs in 344 ODI matches for India along with 12 hundred and 83 half-centuries from 1996 to 2012.
9. Sourav Ganguly – 11363 runs
Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly was one of the best ODI batters for the country in the decade of 2000s. He excelled both in batting and captaincy, leading India to final of 2000 and 2002 Champions Trophy and the final of the 2003 ODI World Cup. Ganguly scored 11363 runs along with 22 centuries and 72 fifties in 311 ODIs (1992-2007).
8. Jacques Kallis – 11579 runs
Former South African all-rounder, Jacques Kallis is the eighth player to score most runs in ODI cricket. The right-hander has amassed 11579 runs in 328 matches along with 17 hundreds and 86 fifties in his ODI career from 1996 to 2014.
7. Inzamam-ul-Haq – 11739 runs
Inzamam-ul-Haq is among the greatest players in ODIs for Pakistan. The former cricketer has amassed 11739 runs in 378 ODI matches of his career along with 10 centuries and 83 half-centuries from 1991 to 2007.
6. Mahela Jayawardene – 12650 runs
Former Sri Lankan cricketer, Mahela Jayawardene is the sixth highest run-scorer of all time in ODI cricket. The right-hander has played 448 ODI matches in his career from 1998 to 2015, amassing 12650 runs along with 19 hundreds and 77 half-centuries.
5. Sanath Jayasuriya – 13430 runs
Another Sri Lankan great, Sanath Jayasuriya is in the list of players to score most runs in ODI cricket. The former cricketer has scored 13430 runs in 445 ODI of his career along with 28 hundreds and 68 half-centuries from 1989 to 2011.
4. Ricky Ponting – 13704 runs
Former Australia skipper, Ricky Ponting has been one of the best ODI batters in the country and one of the greatest captains who led Australia to the 2003 and 2007 ODI World Cup win respectively along with the Champions Trophy triumph in 2006 and 2009. Ponting has scored 13704 along with 30 centuries and 82 half-centuries in 375 matches of his ODI career (1995-2012).
3. Virat Kohli – 13848 runs
Probably the greatest ODI batter among active cricketers, India’s Virat Kohli has been a master of the format. The right-hander remained as the number one ODI batter for 1258 consecutive days from 2017 to 2021 and had a memorable campaign in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Kohli is the third highest run-getter in ODIs with 13848 in 292 ODI matches for India so far along with a record 50 centuries and 72 half-centuries till now.
2. Kumar Sangakkara – 14234 runs
Sri Lankan legend, Kumar Sangakkara is the second highest run-scorer of all time in ODI cricket. The former wicketkeeper-batter has scored 14234 runs in 404 matches in his ODI career from 2000 to 2015 along with 25 hundreds and 93 half-centuries.
1. Sachin Tendulkar – 18426 runs
India’s Sachin Tendulkar is the highest run-getter of all time in international cricket and also tops the list in ODI cricket. He is the first men’s cricketer to score a double hundred in ODIs. Sachin has scored 18426 runs in 463 ODI matches for India with 49 centuries and 96 half-centuries from 1989 to 2012.