With a game like cricket, it is always better to focus on the numbers rather than personal bias. And that is because the numbers simply never lie. There are always some cricket stats that just stick with you, especially the ones about most runs in ODI cricket.
And these stats always make you want to rewatch your favourite innings, the ones in which you know these names got included in such a list as this. Well, let’s break down the titans of ODI batting for you to have yet another reason to do just that.
Meet the Top 10 Most Runs in ODI Cricket
Let the stats speak, and the stats have indeed spoken. The following is a list of the top 10 highest ODI Run scorers that cricket has seen so far.
At the top reigns the king, the god, the legend himself. And what follows after him are names that presented their brilliance on the field.
- Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 18,426 runs
- Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 14,234 runs
- Virat Kohli (India) – 14,181 runs
- Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 13,704 runs
- Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) – 13,430 runs
- Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) – 12,650 runs
- Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan) – 11,739 runs
- Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 11,579 runs
- Sourav Ganguly (India) – 11,363 runs
Rohit Sharma (India) – 11,168 runs
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Here is How the Most Runs in ODI cricket Table Looks
For those looking for the full-blown chart with every single detail and numbers, here is a look at the whole table of the top 10 ODI Run-Scorers till date.
Here is How the Most Runs in ODI cricket Table Looks
| Most runs | ||||||||||||||
Player | Span | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 0 | 4s | 6s |
| SR Tendulkar (IND) | 1989-2012 | 463 | 452 | 41 | 18426 | 200* | 44.8 | 21368 | 86.2 | 49 | 96 | 20 | 2016 | 195 |
| KC Sangakkara (Asia/ICC/SL) | 2000-2015 | 404 | 380 | 41 | 14234 | 169 | 42 | 18048 | 78.9 | 25 | 93 | 15 | 1385 | 88 |
| V Kohli (IND) | 2008-2025 | 302 | 290 | 45 | 14181 | 183 | 57.9 | 15192 | 93.3 | 51 | 74 | 16 | 1325 | 152 |
| RT Ponting (AUS/ICC) | 1995-2012 | 375 | 365 | 39 | 13704 | 164 | 42 | 17046 | 80.4 | 30 | 82 | 20 | 1231 | 162 |
| ST Jayasuriya (Asia/SL) | 1989-2011 | 445 | 433 | 18 | 13430 | 189 | 32.4 | 14725 | 91.2 | 28 | 68 | 34 | 1500 | 270 |
| DPMD Jayawardene (Asia/SL) | 1998-2015 | 448 | 418 | 39 | 12650 | 144 | 33.4 | 16020 | 79 | 19 | 77 | 28 | 1119 | 76 |
| Inzamam-ul-Haq (Asia/PAK) | 1991-2007 | 378 | 350 | 53 | 11739 | 137* | 39.5 | 15812 | 74.2 | 10 | 83 | 20 | 971 | 144 |
| JH Kallis (Afr/ICC/SA) | 1996-2014 | 328 | 314 | 53 | 11579 | 139 | 44.4 | 15885 | 72.9 | 17 | 86 | 17 | 911 | 137 |
| SC Ganguly (Asia/IND) | 1992-2007 | 311 | 300 | 23 | 11363 | 183 | 41 | 15416 | 73.7 | 22 | 72 | 16 | 1122 | 190 |
| RG Sharma (IND) | 2007-2025 | 273 | 265 | 36 | 11168 | 264 | 48.8 | 12034 | 92.8 | 32 | 58 | 16 | 1045 | 344 |
| Via ESPNcricinfo |
| Most runs | |
Player | Runs |
| SR Tendulkar (IND) | 18426 |
| KC Sangakkara (Asia/ICC/SL) | 14234 |
| V Kohli (IND) | 14181 |
| RT Ponting (AUS/ICC) | 13704 |
| ST Jayasuriya (Asia/SL) | 13430 |
| DPMD Jayawardene (Asia/SL) | 12650 |
| Inzamam-ul-Haq (Asia/PAK) | 11739 |
| JH Kallis (Afr/ICC/SA) | 11579 |
| SC Ganguly (Asia/IND) | 11363 |
| RG Sharma (IND) | 11168 |
These numbers are straight-up proof of their greatness. And when numbers do the talking, there is usually no more need for words to be exchanged. For a sport like cricket, the table full of stats of the most runs in ODI cricket does the trick.
What Makes These Guys Legends?
Let’s chat about a few of them because each name has a great story that has gone down in history for reasons not all of us might be aware of. So, take a look at what these names mean for the history of the sport, and keep in mind to feel their contribution.
Sachin Tendulkar
Call him the God if you want—it’s earned. Think about this: almost 4,000 runs clear of Sangakkara at the top. His consistency, adaptability, and sheer endurance made him immortal. Every time he scored, fans felt hope renewed. Sachin has not only scored the most runs in ODI, but he has also scored the most runs in cricket.
Kumar Sangakkara
Grace personified. A perfect cover drive, a sharp cricket brain, and year after year of reliable runs. For Sri Lanka, he was the backbone. 25 centuries and 93 fifties tell you he delivered when needed.
Virat Kohli
Ricky Ponting
A captain, a leader, and a master at big moments. He backed Australia through some of their most dominant eras, and tallying 13,704 runs was part of that legacy.
Sanath Jayasuriya
An aggressive starter before it was a thing. He redefined how openers played spin, blasted boundaries, and made scoring big seem easy.
Numbers That Stick: More Than Just Runs
Let’s throw in a few cherry-picked stats to flavor our talk:
- Virat’s Speed: Fastest to 14,000 ODI runs in 287 innings. If you remember that Champions Trophy game where he surpassed Sangakkara—that was one for the books.
- ODI Double Centuries: Rohit Sharma’s 264 at Eden Gardens remains the highest ODI score ever. Standalone innings like that are what legends are made of.
Why We Keep Talking About ODI Run Kings
It’s more than numbers. When you say “Who has the most runs in ODI cricket?”, what you’re really saying is: who’s the greatest entertainer, the most dependable, who can handle pressure across eras. These players played in different gear, different rules, different decades, and yet they delivered.
Beyond the Stats: The Feel
Remember the buzz when Tendulkar scored yet another century? Or how Kohli’s chase would quiet a crowd? These runs create memories—late-night games, group chats, streaming with friends until the last ball.
That’s why we keep returning to these numbers. Because with runs, you get stories.
Conclusion: The Top 10 Never Really Leaves You
So here’s the bottom line:
- Sachin sits at the top, unassailably. His runs are a mountain all others need serious effort to climb.
- Sangakkara and Kohli are next, with Kohli really pushing hard.
- Then come Ponting, Jayasuriya, Jayawardene, Inzamam, Kallis, Ganguly, and Rohit—each a legend in their own style.
These guys changed how the game is played. And while upcoming batsmen are giving chase, for now, this is the Roll of Honour for Most Runs in ODI Cricket.
Remember the buzz when Tendulkar scored yet another century? Or how Kohli’s chase would quiet a crowd? These runs create memories—late-night games, group chats, streaming with friends until the last ball.
That’s why we keep returning to these numbers. Because with runs, you get stories.
