Highest Run Scorer in ICC World Cup
The event of the World Cup is always a dream event for every cricketer across the globe. Coming after every four years, it is the tournament of opportunity for the batsmen and the bowlers to score as many runs and take as many wickets and contribute for their team towards the world cup triumph. We come across the list of the top 10 batsmen who have scored the highest number of runs in every edition of the world cup they have played:
| Player | Span | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | SR |
| SR Tendulkar (INDIA) | 1992-2011 | 45 | 44 | 2278 | 152 | 56.95 | 88.98 |
| RT Ponting (AUS) | 1996-2011 | 46 | 42 | 1743 | 140* | 45.86 | 79.95 |
| KC Sangakkara (SL) | 2003-2015 | 37 | 35 | 1532 | 124 | 56.74 | 86.55 |
| BC Lara (WI) | 1992-2007 | 34 | 33 | 1225 | 116 | 42.24 | 86.26 |
| AB de Villiers (SA) | 2007-2015 | 23 | 22 | 1207 | 162* | 63.52 | 117.29 |
| CH Gayle (WI) | 2003-2019 | 35 | 34 | 1186 | 215 | 35.93 | 90.53 |
| ST Jayasuriya (SL) | 1992-2007 | 38 | 37 | 1165 | 120 | 34.26 | 90.66 |
| JH Kallis (SA) | 1996-2011 | 36 | 32 | 1148 | 128* | 45.92 | 74.4 |
| Shakib Al Hasan (BDESH) | 2007-2019 | 29 | 29 | 1146 | 124* | 45.84 | 82.26 |
| TM Dilshan (SL) | 2007-2015 | 27 | 25 | 1112 | 161* | 52.95 | 92.97 |
*Last Updated 30 December, 2019
List of Leading Run Scorer in ICC World Cup History
#1. Sachin Tendulkar
(2278 Runs in 45 Matches)
Sachin Tendulkar is the only Indian player in the list and tops the list with 2278 runs in 45 matches and an average of 56.95. With his achievements, he is no less than a legend and has been a part of a total of 6 World Cups. In his World Cup career, he has scored six centuries and has maintained a strike rate of 89.
He achieved his first century in 1996 by scoring 127 runs against Kenya. His maximum score was in 2003 against Namibia were scored 152 runs from 151 balls by hitting 18 fours.
#2. Ricky Ponting
(1743 Runs in 46 Matches)
This former captain of an Australian cricket team is second in the list with 1743 runs in 46 matches with an average of 45.86 and strike rate of 80. He has also entered the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2018. Ricky Ponting has won 3 ICC Cricket World Cups out of which he was the captain of the team in 2003 and 2007.
#3. Kumar Sangakkara
(1532 Runs in 37 Matches)
The former Sri Lankan Captain and batsman Kumar Sangakkara is third in this list with 1532 runs in 37 matches with an impressive average of 56.74 and a strike rate of 86.55. He was one of the best wicketkeeper batsmen of his time. He scored 5 centuries and 7 fifties during his World Cup’s career.
#4. Brian Lara
(1225 Runs in 34 Matches)
Being the only West Indies cricketer in the list, Brian Lara has scored 1225 runs in 34 matches which make him fourth on the list. With an average of 42.24 and strike rate 87, he is considered as an iconic figure in world cricket.
He retired from international cricket after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 ending his 17 years career with West Indies. He has also entered the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2012.
#5. AB de Villiers
(1207 Runs in 23 Matches)
Mr. 360° “AB de Villiers” needs no introduction in Cricket. The player, who made cricket so much popular with his destructive batting and unorthodox shots, is fifth in the list. He made 1207 runs in 23 Matches with an awesome average of 63.52 and a strike rate of 117.29. He is the man to score the most number of sixes(37) in the world cup which shows his big-hitting capabilities.
#6. Chris Gayle
(1186 Runs in 35 Matches)
The Carribean cricketer has been playing in the world cup since 2003. Chris Gayle has played 35 World Cup matches and scored 1186 runs till now with an average of 35.93 with a strike rate of 90.53. Chris Gayle is the only batsman in the list to score a double century in the World Cup as he blasted 215 runs against Zimbabwe in the 2015 World Cup. He announced retirement after the home series against India post-2019 World Cup tournament.
#7. Sanath Jayasuriya
(1165 Runs in 38 Matches)
This Sri Lankan cricketer is sixth in the list with 1165 runs in 38 matches with an average of 34.26. Sanath Jayasuriya was labeled as a game-changer in the 1996 World Cup when he achieved 82 runs from 44 balls and became a man of the series. Despite his marvelous achievements, he was banned for two years starting 2018 for breaching ICC Anti-Corruption Code.
#8. Jacques Kallis
(1148 Runs in 36 Matches)
This South African cricketer has achieved 1148 runs in 36 matches and an average of 45.92 which has made him seventh in the list. He is considered the best all-rounder with a strike rate of 76. Jacques Kallis has received 32 Man of the Match awards in his ODI career of 328 matches.
#9. Shakib Al Hasan
(1146 Runs in 29 Matches)
The only Bangladeshi cricketer to feature in the list, Shakib Al Hasan has played in the four editions of the World Cup till now and amassed 1146 in as many as 29 innings with an average of 45.84. He is one of the best all-rounders in International cricket right now and also became the first player to score more than 500 runs (542 runs) and take 10-plus wickets in a single edition of the world cup.
#10. Tillakaratne Dilshan
(1112 Runs in 27 Matches)
Tillakaratne Dilshan is surely one of those players who changed the face of cricket. His innovative shots and unique batting skills made him a legend in cricket. He was fabulous as an opener and one of the best players Sri Lanka has ever produced. He is eighth in the list of the highest run-scorer in the history of the World Cup. He scored a total of 1112 runs in 27 matches with an average of 52.95 and a strike rate of 92.97.
See More Batsmen in this List:
Mahela Jayawardene
(1100 Runs in 40 Matches)
Mahela Jayawardene is one of the greatest batsmen of all time who had mastery of playing spin bowling. He was a former Sri Lankan player and a very successful captain. He played 40 matches in the world cup in which he scored 1100 runs with the help of 4 centuries and 5 half-centuries. He has managed to get the ninth spot on this list.
Jayawardene was named as “Best International Captain of the Year” in 2006 by ICCI.
Adam Gilchrist
(1085 Runs in 31 Matches)
This Australian cricketer, Adam Gilchrist, is tenth in the list with 1085 runs in 31 matches and an average of 36.16. He is considered the greatest batsman and wicket-keeper of all time and made his debut in 1996 for Australia. During the 2007 World Cup, he scored 149 runs from 104 balls and this remained his only century in World Cup tournaments. He has also entered the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2013. Adam Gilchrist is the one who scored the most number of runs and his name in the list of the highest run-scorer in the ICC World Cup.