Indian batting legend Virat Kohli made 264 (158 balls, 35 fours, 16 sixes) in the third ODI against Australia in Sydney on Saturday to become the second-highest scorer in One Day International cricket.
He overtook Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara in the list and is now behind only Sachin Tendulkar. The Most Odi Runs In International Cricket rankings highlight the achievements of the world’s leading ODI run-scorers. Here are the top five run-scorers in the world.
1. Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar is the highest run scorer in ODI cricket and also one of the most respected batsmen in history. He is a legend in Indian cricket and for many, he is considered the God of cricket.
He made his debut at the age of sixteen and went on to break numerous records in a career that spanned over two decades. He was a master at opening the innings for India and was always able to give them a good start in the match.
Sachin became famous due to his batting style and was able to play against any team. He scored a lot of runs for India in the World Cup tournament in 1998 and was a key contributor to India’s success. His performance in this tournament led him to receive the Arjuna award and later on the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award. He was a great player and also inspired other young batsmen to take up cricket as their career.
His biggest achievement came when he scored the first double century in an ODI. He did it in just 147 balls against South Africa in Gwalior and this was a massive accomplishment for him. He was a complete batsman and was always able to hit the ball hard for long periods of time.
He is the only player to have scored 100 international centuries and is known as one of the greatest batsmen to have ever played the game. He was a great influence on other batsmen such as Virat Kohli and Prithvi Shah and is a legend in his own right. He retired from international cricket in 2013 and was awarded the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award, which is a testament to his achievements.
2. Virat Kohli
Indian batting dynamo Virat Kohli is one of the greatest limited-overs batsmen to have played cricket. He made a huge impression on his first tour of Australia in 2014-15 with a record-breaking 692 runs (with four centuries) in the four Tests and an astonishing 664 in seven ODIs.
Kohli broke Sachin Tendulkar’s ODI run-scoring record with a superb 268 (167 balls, 30 fours, and 12 sixes) for India against Sri Lanka in an ODI at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India, on 13 November 2014. He became the first player to score two double centuries in ODIs with his innings of 209 in an ODI against Australia at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore, India, on 2 November 2013.
On Saturday, Kohli reached 14,235 runs in 305 ODI matches, surpassing Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara to become the second highest ODI run-getter behind Tendulkar. The former India captain will retire from ODIs after the 2024 World Cup, which will be his final tournament as captain of the side.
3. Saeed Anwar
Saeed Anwar is a Pakistani former cricketer who played for the national team in ODIs, Test matches, and Twenty20 Internationals. He is a prolific left-handed opener who was known for his majestic timing and immaculate placement. He was a highly successful player, scoring a total of 18,426 runs in his career. He was also a top-class wicket-taker, with a total of 534 wickets. He was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1997.
Anwar was born in 1968 in Karachi, Pakistan. He was a student at NED University of Engineering and Technology when he started playing first class cricket for domestic sides. He graduated from NED in 1989 with a degree in computer system engineering. Although he wanted to go to the United States for his master’s degree, he was persuaded into a professional career by his father.
After impressing on his ODI debut in 1991 against the West Indies, Anwar became a regular member of the Pakistan team. He quickly established himself as one of the best openers in ODI cricket, with impressive performances in all three ODI World Cups. He scored five consecutive ODI centuries, including a brilliant 194 against India in Chennai.
Anwar’s style of batting was unique, with minimal footwork and sublime placement. He often utilized the space between cover and point, making full use of the gaps. He was also a very good fielder, with outstanding hands.
The current record holder for most ODI runs is Sachin Tendulkar, who has scored a total of 18,426 runs in ODIs. He is followed by Virat Kohli, who has a long way to go before surpassing the Master Blaster’s record. Kohli is currently in the middle of a golden period in his career, but he will need to keep up his form for a long time to challenge Tendulkar’s record.
4. Imam-ul-Haq
The nephew of former Pakistan cricket great Inzamam-ul-Haq, Imam burst onto the scene in 2012 when he made his debut series against India U -19. There was a lot of expectation on the young batsman, but he showed no signs of nerves and made a strong impression with the bat. Imam also scored a century on his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in 2017, becoming the second youngest batsman to achieve this feat.
The opening batsman is a regular member of the Pakistan squad and has amassed over 1,000 ODI runs for his country. The flamboyant left-hander has a natural feel for the game and is a brilliant striker of the ball. He has also done well in the T20I format for Pakistan, scoring more than 200 runs in his first six matches for the national side. Imam has also been a regular in the domestic circuit for Lahore Shalimar and Lahore Blues.
He has recently impressed in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where he along with Fakhar Zaman set the highest-ever opening partnership in the history of the competition. The youngster is a regular member of the Pakistan squad in both the T20I and ODI formats, and is regarded as one of the most promising batting talents for the country.
Sources have told Geo News that authorities have prepared an initial report against Imam for faking injuries during the England Test series and leaking dressing room information, with disciplinary violations also included in his file. The sources say that the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency is conducting forensic and technical analysis of mobile phones belonging to Imam and his fellow dropped player Mohammad Rizwan. They will examine their financial dealings before and after the England series, with their bank accounts under scrutiny.
5. Mohammad Hafeez
Mohammad Hafeez is a veteran in Pakistan’s cricketing lineup. Having made his debut in 2003, he has consolidated his place in the side with consistent performances in all formats of the game. Whether opening the batting or taking wickets with his handy off-spin, Hafeez is an integral part of Pakistan’s line-up.
He has been a very effective captain for Pakistan in the T20 format, winning two T20 series against India. Having captained the Pakistan team in 29 T20I games, he has amassed an impressive record of 17 wins and 11 losses. Hafeez has also managed to win a number of away series for Pakistan, making him one of the most successful T20I captains.
Although he did not perform as well in the Tests and ODIs as he did in T20Is, his presence in the side is crucial. He has been an effective player with the bat and has scored many tons for the national side. However, his form dipped in 2013 and the outswing of Dale Steyn began to expose a weakness in his game. He was consequently dropped from the team for the Zimbabwe tour that year.
Despite having an effective bowling record, Hafeez is an all-rounder at heart and loves nothing more than playing for Pakistan in front of his home crowd. The way he leads from the front and is always ready to take up responsibility in the field defines him as an outstanding all-rounder. His batting skills and contributions to Pakistan cricket make him relevant to discussions about Most Odi Runs In International Cricket. Whether it is his lean onto the front foot, a high elbow giving way to a serene cover drive, or a clip off the pads, Hafeez can do it all.
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