Most Runs in ODI
Since the inception of the game, cricket has seen a drastic evolution. It was played as a five-day game until the one-day game format came into existence in 1971. Over the years, we have seen some sensational limited over’s cricketers, who have not only entered their names in the record books but also took their respective teams to great heights.
India’s greatest ever batsmen to have ever played the game, Sachin Tendulkar holds the most number of batting records in cricket. He also tops the list when it comes to most runs in one-day cricket. But who are the others on the list? Don’t know? Not to worry, we have you covered.
In this article, we take a look at the top 5 batsmen with the most runs in one-day cricket:
#5 Mahela Jayawardene (448 Matches, 12650 Runs)
Mahela Jayawardene is hailed as one of the best batsmen to have ever played the game for Sri Lanka. The former Sri Lanka captain boasts an outstanding record in all the formats of the game. He is currently the fifth-highest run-scorer in ODIs. In 448 matches, Mahela Jayawardene has scored 12650 runs at an average of 33.37, including 19 centuries and 77 half-centuries.
Jayawardene has also led Sri Lanka to some historic wins during his career and was also named as the captain of the year by ICC in 2006. Till date, Mahela Jayawardene is the only player to have scored a century in both World Cup final and a semi-final.
#4 Sanath Jayasuriya (445 Matches, 13430 Runs)
Sanath Jayasuriya sits at the fourth position in the list of most runs in ODIs. In his illustrious career, he has played 445 one-day internationals in which he has managed to score 13430 runs at an average of 32.36. He has hit 28 centuries and 68 half-centuries during his one-day international career.
Known for his power-hitting skills, it was Sanath Jayasuriya who redefined batting in One-Day Internationals. He is currently the only player to have scored more than 10,000 runs and taken more than 300 wickets in One-Day Internationals. Sanath Jayasuriya was named as the most valuable player in the 1996 World Cup.
As far as his Test cricket numbers are concerned, Jayasuriya has played 110 matches, scoring 6973 runs at an average of 40.1.
#3 Ricky Ponting (375 Matches, 13704 Runs)
Arguably, the best captain the world has ever seen, Ricky Ponting left a huge legacy the day he retired from international cricket. He is the most successful captain the game has ever seen, having led Australia to three World Cup titles in 1999, 2003, and 2007. He is placed at the third position in the list of most runs scored in one-day cricket. In 375 matches, Ponting has 13704 runs to his name. He has notched 30 centuries and 82 half-centuries in his one-day international cricket career.
The former Australian captain has led Australia to 220 victories in 324 matches with a winning percentage of 67.91.
#2 Kumar Sangakkara (404 Matches, 14234 Runs)
At number two is Sri Lanka’s former skipper, Kumar Sangakkara. The southpaw has scored 14234 runs in 404 matches at an average of 41.98 and a strike rate of 78.86. He has 23 centuries and 93 half-centuries to his name in his one-day international cricket career.
During his long and illustrious career, Sangakkara has won many awards, including the ICC Cricketer of the year in 2012. He was adjudged as the Man of the Match for his sensational performance in the 2014 T20 World Cup final.
His performance helped his team won the T20 World Cup that year. Sangakkara was part of the team that made the final of the 2007 Cricket World Cup, 2011 Cricket World Cup, 2009 ICC World Twenty20, and 2012 ICC World Twenty20.
#1 Sachin Tendulkar (463 Matches, 18426 Runs)
Arguably, the greatest batsmen the world has ever seen, Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for scoring the most runs in ODIs. He has represented India in 463 one-day internationals, in which he has managed to score 18426 runs at an average of 44.83. He has notched as many as 49 centuries and 96 half-centuries in his one-day international career.
Sachin Tendulkar holds numerous records in limited over’s cricket besides being the highest scorer in cricketing history. Sachin Tendulkar is the first batsman to have ever scored a double century in ODIs.
He reached the feat after playing a sensational unbeaten 200-run knock against South Africa in 2010. Besides, Sachin Tendulkar is the only player to have scored more than 30,000 runs and a hundred centuries in international cricket.
