Most ODI Runs in Cricket: All-Time Leading Run-Scorers
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Sachin Tendulkar scored his final ODI run in 2012, ending a 22-year career with 18,426 of them — a total so far ahead of the field that, more than a decade later, no active batter is even close to threatening it. The list of the highest ODI run-scorers is a roll call of the format’s most durable and consistent greats.
What It Takes to Top the List
Piling up ODI runs is about far more than talent. It demands a long career, the fitness to keep playing across many years, and the consistency to score in every kind of condition. That is why the all-time list is dominated by batters who combined class with remarkable durability, often over 15 to 20 years at the top.
The All-Time Leading Run-Scorers
Sachin Tendulkar (India) stands alone at the summit with 18,426 runs and 49 centuries, numbers built over 463 innings and two decades of international cricket.
Virat Kohli (India), with more than 14,000 runs as of 2026, has climbed to second on the all-time list. The most prolific century-maker in ODI history, he pairs a high average with a superb record in run chases.
Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) amassed 14,234 runs as a stylish left-hander and wicketkeeper-batter, long the second-highest scorer in the format.
Ricky Ponting (Australia) scored 13,704 runs while captaining a dominant Australian side to back-to-back World Cup titles.
Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) revolutionised opening batting with his aggression and finished with 13,430 runs.
Top Run-Scorers at a Glance
| Batter | Country | ODI runs | Centuries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | 18,426 | 49 |
| Virat Kohli* | India | 14,000+ | 50+ |
| Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 14,234 | 25 |
| Ricky Ponting | Australia | 13,704 | 30 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 13,430 | 28 |
*Kohli’s totals continue to grow.
Tendulkar’s Untouchable Record
The scale of Tendulkar’s achievement is hard to overstate. His 18,426 runs and 49 hundreds came against every attack in the world, on every kind of surface, across an era before the batting-friendly conditions of modern cricket. With players now featuring in fewer ODIs relative to T20s, matching that volume looks close to impossible.
Kohli and the Modern Challenge
If anyone was ever placed to chase Tendulkar, it is Virat Kohli, whose average above 55 and record-breaking run of centuries make him, for many, the finest ODI batter of all time. He has already moved to second all-time, but even he sits thousands of runs behind the record — a measure of just how far ahead Tendulkar remains.
Why These Records Endure
The highest ODI run-scorers share a common thread: elite skill sustained for a very long time. As international schedules tilt toward T20 cricket and careers grow shorter, the towering totals set by Tendulkar and his peers look increasingly like records for the ages.
Frequently asked questions
Who has scored the most runs in ODI cricket?+
Sachin Tendulkar of India holds the record for the most runs in One Day International cricket, with 18,426 runs across a 22-year career. No other batter has come close, and the record is widely considered one of the hardest in the sport to break.
Who has the second-most ODI runs?+
For years Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara (14,234) held second place, but Virat Kohli, with over 14,000 ODI runs as of 2026, has climbed to second on the all-time list. Both sit far behind Tendulkar but well clear of the rest of the field.
How many ODI centuries did Sachin Tendulkar score?+
Sachin Tendulkar scored 49 ODI centuries, a record that stood alone until Virat Kohli surpassed it. Tendulkar's blend of longevity, consistency, and hundreds across every kind of pitch underpins his position as the highest run-scorer in ODI history.
Is Virat Kohli the greatest ODI batter of all time?+
Many rate Virat Kohli the greatest ODI batter ever. He holds the record for the most ODI centuries, averages above 55, and is exceptional in run chases. While Tendulkar leads on total runs, Kohli's average, strike rate, and match-winning record give him a powerful claim.
Which players have scored over 13,000 ODI runs?+
A small group has passed 13,000 ODI runs: Sachin Tendulkar, Kumar Sangakkara, Virat Kohli, Ricky Ponting (13,704), and Sanath Jayasuriya (13,430). Reaching such totals requires a long career, remarkable consistency, and the fitness to keep performing across many years.
Why is Tendulkar's ODI run record so hard to beat?+
Tendulkar's 18,426 runs came over 463 innings across 22 years. Matching it requires elite performance sustained for two decades, at a time when players feature in fewer ODIs relative to T20s. That combination of volume, longevity, and consistency makes the record extremely difficult to challenge.
Who is the leading active ODI run-scorer?+
Virat Kohli is comfortably the leading active run-scorer in ODIs and second only to Tendulkar on the all-time list. Among other active players, Rohit Sharma also ranks highly, though both remain well behind Tendulkar's record total.
Sources
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