Most Runs in ODI Cricket: Ranking the Best Performers
One Day International cricket is the most popular form of the sport and is often the most exciting, with a lot of runs being scored. But which players have scored the most runs in ODI cricket? We take a look at the top performers and rank them according to their total runs.
Ranking the Best Performers
The top five ODI run-scorers of all time are:
- Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 18,426 runs
- Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 14,234 runs
- Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 13,704 runs
- Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) – 13,430 runs
- Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) – 12,650 runs
Sachin Tendulkar is the all-time leader in ODI runs, with an astonishing 18,426 runs scored in 463 matches. He is the only batsman to have scored over 18,000 runs in ODI cricket and is the only player to have scored over 10,000 runs in the format. His highest score of 200 not out is also a world record.
Most Centuries in ODI Cricket
Tendulkar is also the all-time leader in centuries scored in ODI cricket, with 49 centuries to his name. He is followed by Sangakkara, who has scored 38 centuries, and Ponting, who has scored 30 centuries. Jayasuriya is fourth on the list with 28 centuries and Jayawardene rounds off the top five with 19 centuries.
Most Fifties in ODI Cricket
Tendulkar is again the leader in fifties scored in ODI cricket, with 96 fifties to his name. Sangakkara is second on the list with 79 fifties, followed by Ponting (63), Jayasuriya (60) and Jayawardene (53).
Most Runs in a Calendar Year
Tendulkar holds the record for the most runs scored in a calendar year, with 1,894 runs in 1998. He is followed by Sangakkara, who scored 1,788 runs in 2005, and Ponting, who scored 1,734 runs in 2003. Jayasuriya is fourth on the list with 1,653 runs in 1997, and Jayawardene is fifth with 1,612 runs in 2006.
Most Runs in a Single Series
Tendulkar holds the record for the most runs scored in a single series, with 673 runs in the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup. He is followed by Sangakkara, who scored 616 runs in the 2007 ICC World Cup, and Ponting, who scored 523 runs in the 2003 World Cup. Jayasuriya is fourth on the list with 496 runs in the 1996 World Cup, and Jayawardene is fifth with 488 runs in the 2006 Champions Trophy.
Conclusion
Tendulkar is undoubtedly the all-time leader in ODI runs, with an astonishing 18,426 runs scored in 463 matches. He is the only batsman to have scored over 18,000 runs in ODI cricket and is the only player to have scored over 10,000 runs in the format. He also holds the record for most centuries and most fifties in ODI cricket, as well as the records for most runs in a calendar year and most runs in a single series. There is no doubt that Tendulkar is one of the greatest batsmen in the history of the game.