One Day International (ODI) cricket is the medium that bridges the gap between the timeless elegance of Test cricket and the frenetic fireworks of T20s. It has provided fans with countless memorable moments, from thrilling chases under pressure to breathtaking centuries that redefine batting brilliance.
Kumar Sangakkara, the Sri Lankan wicket-keeper batter, is regarded as one of the finest players in the history of ODI cricket and is among the players with the Most Runs In Odi Cricket. He was a left-hand batsman who could play in any conditions with elegance and confidence.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2026 | Illinois | Home | W 42-19 |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Kent State | Home | W 59-3 |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Texas | Away | L 23-24 |
| Sep 5, 2026 | Ball State | Home | W 56-3 |
| Dec 31, 2025 | Miami (FL) | Home | L 14-24 |
| Dec 6, 2025 | Indiana | Home | L 10-13 |
| Nov 29, 2025 | Michigan | Away | W 27-9 |
| Nov 22, 2025 | Rutgers | Home | W 42-9 |
| Nov 15, 2025 | UCLA | Home | W 48-10 |
| Nov 8, 2025 | Purdue | Away | W 34-10 |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25, 2026 | Northwestern | Home | W 29-23 |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Western Kentucky | Home | W 38-0 |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Howard | Home | W 55-0 |
| Sep 5, 2026 | North Texas | Home | W 52-16 |
| Jan 19, 2026 | Miami (FL) | Neutral | W 27-21 |
| Jan 9, 2026 | Oregon | Neutral | W 56-22 |
| Jan 1, 2026 | Alabama | Neutral | W 38-3 |
| Dec 6, 2025 | Ohio State | Away | W 13-10 |
| Nov 28, 2025 | Purdue | Away | W 56-3 |
| Nov 15, 2025 | Wisconsin | Away | W 31-7 |
1. Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar is one of the most celebrated, accomplished and respected athletes to ever play this sport. He is a living legend who carries with him the esteem of being India’s greatest cricketer, and one of the world’s finest batsmen. He is also a national hero and a global icon who transcended the boundaries of cricket to be a role model for all.
On December 11, 1988, 15-year-old Sachin Tendulkar made history on his first-class debut for Bombay against Gujarat. He became the youngest player in Bombay’s cricketing history to score a century. It was a bold move to step into the senior arena against experienced adult players. But that was the kind of confidence and boldness that would define Sachin throughout his career.
In the next match he hammered 58 off 18 balls. The world took notice. But it was the final Test in Manchester in August 1990 where he really got the attention of cricket fans around the world. The Indian team was in trouble against England and they needed someone to dig them out of the hole.
That’s when 17-year-old Sachin stepped up to the plate and played an innings of 119 not out. It was a match-saving performance that displayed the kind of skill and composure only an extraordinary batsman can display.
From that day on, every time he stood at the crease millions of people tied their own emotional state to how Sachin would perform. At the peak of his fame, he was offered and received Ferrari cars, presidential honours, national awards and massive corporations lined up to put him in their advertisements.
Yet through it all he remained the shy, gentle, faith-driven man who lived close to his family and collected one-rupee coins from his coach as a kid.
2. Virat Kohli
A man of many guises, Kohli is captain, rebel, stormtrooper, match-winner and aspiring statesman all rolled into one. He tips his hat to the game’s most timeless elegance, Test cricket, while still staying in step with its most frenetic format, Twenty20.
But it is in ODI cricket that Kohli truly shines. The most prolific run scorer in the format, he is the best batsman the world has ever seen at chasing down massive totals and remains one of the most exciting and exhilarating players to watch.
The best of the current generation, Kohli has transformed India’s ODI team into a dominant force both at home and overseas. He is a natural leader, possessing a strong personality and a powerful presence on the field. He has a deep understanding of his game and is always ready to adapt to any situation.
Kohli’s unrivalled record of scoring the most runs in ODIs is the result of his ruthless desire to win and the exceptional work ethic that he puts in. His calmness under pressure, and a tremendous ability to read the game make him the most complete modern-day batsman.
The elegant Kumar Sangakkara was a master of making big scores in ODI cricket. A classy left-hander, he made the most of any pitch or surface. He was a superb player in domestic cricket as well as in the big matches, and his batting style could change with the conditions. He was a prolific run scorer, scoring more than 12,500 runs in ODIs. His batting style was unique, and he was known for his brilliant cover drive. He was the captain of Sri Lanka at various points in his career.
3. Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting is one of the most prolific batsmen to have ever played international cricket. He is second to Tendulkar in terms of total international runs with over 14,000 and was also a great captain who led his side to three World Cup titles. The highlight of his illustrious career was his free-wheeling strokeplay which smashed opposition bowlers to all corners of the ground.
Ponting was a natural leader with the right mix of aggression, passion and skill to motivate his teammates. He always fought hard for his team and was not afraid to speak out in the heat of battle. According to former Australian captain Allan Border, he “wears his heart on his sleeve”.
His ability to adapt to all formats of the game was also a huge plus for Australia. He was a superb test player who scored a ton in each of his first two Ashes series against England in the late 2000s.
Ponting’s best performance in the ODI format came during the 2002-03 ICC Champions Trophy. In the first match of the group stage against South Africa, he scored 114 in just 116 balls, including four sixes. He was instrumental in helping Australia to a comfortable win over the South Africans.
In the semi-finals against India, he scored 119 from 123 balls as Australia reached a target of 287 in just 76 overs. This was one of the highest ODI scores in the history of the game and put Australia into the final.
In the final against South Africa, he was unable to add to his impressive run of form with the bat but he did not let that get him down and in the rematch between the same teams at Bellerive Oval, he scored 143 from 159 balls as Australia completed a comprehensive 3-0 series victory.
4. Sourav Ganguly
Sourav Chandidas Ganguly was one of the most powerful left-handed batsmen and captains that India cricket has ever seen. He was not just a brilliant player, but also a great strategist and an astute administrator. He is a member of the ICC Hall of Fame, a well-deserved tribute to a legendary man who shaped Indian cricket in multiple ways.
In a podcast interview with Raj Shamani, Ganguly revisited the early 2000s, a time when the game was rocked by betting and match-fixing scandals. He recalled how he personally quizzed senior teammates like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Anil Kumble about whether they had been approached for fixing during his tenure as India captain.
The prank was meant to trigger a few laughs, but the drama soon spiralled out of control and Ganguly found himself in a state of complete panic. Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan decided to prank the then-India skipper by walking into his dressing room with fake newspaper clippings, lambasting him for being a party animal and an irresponsible leader.
Ganguly was left utterly flabbergasted and took legal action, sending a Rs 50 crore defamation notice to an official of a football fan club who claimed to have organised Messi’s visit in Kolkata.
The complaint was filed with the Kolkata police’s cyber cell and alleged that the accused was making false and defamatory statements against Ganguly, harming his reputation and causing him mental distress. The apex court ordered the official to pay damages to the former India captain.
It is believed that the official has yet to respond to the complaint. The matter will now be heard in a civil court. The apex court’s order came after a month-long hearing.
5. Mahela Jayawardene
Mahela Jayawardene is one of the most successful and influential batsmen to come out of Sri Lanka. He was the first Sri Lankan to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket and also became the first player to score a century in each of the five formats of the game. He has also won a number of major tournaments with his national side including the 2007 World Cup, 2002 ICC Champions Trophy and 2009 ICC World Twenty20.
While his batting is the main highlight of his career, Jayawardene was also a good fielder and took a lot of catches during his illustrious international career.
He has a total of 413 catches to his name across all three formats of the game. In an era where many of the top batsmen are freelance clubbers of the ball, it is easy to overlook the importance of proper technique and Jayawardene was the epitome of this. His princely drives and dexterous flicks continue to elicit admiration and envy in equal measure even now.
Jayawardene captained his nation in both Tests and ODIs during his long and illustrious career. He led them to several victories and fought off the bridesmaid tag that had been attached to his team following several heartbreaking losses in the final of major World events. He retired from Test cricket in 2014 but he soon ended his 17-year limited overs career as well, with Sri Lanka crashing out of the 2015 World Cup quarter-finals.
The affable former captain is currently the coach of Khulna Titans in the Bangladesh Premier League. His career is also relevant to discussions of Most Runs In Odi Cricket. He is also a brand ambassador for Carlton Bank, the largest privately-owned commercial bank in the country.
Also Read : Most Runs in ODI: Top 10 Run-Scorers in Cricket History
