Most runs in ODI cricket history: Full list of all-time highest run-scorers in one-day internationals originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
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India legend Sachin Tendulkar is currently the player with the most runs in ODI cricket, having scored 18,426 runs.
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He’s followed by compatriot Virat Kohli, who is second on the list and recently surpassed the 15,000-mark.
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Kohli still has a long way to go if he wants to match Tendulkar’s record, even with his impressive form.
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Who has the most runs in ODI cricket history?
It’s Sachin Tendulkar, who, to not many people’s surprise, stands at the top of the summit of ODI history as its leading runscorer.
Across 463 matches, the ‘Little Master’ scored a whopping 18,426 runs, which include 49 centuries and 96 half-centuries, at an average of 44.83 with a strike rate of 86.23.
READ:India squad for New Zealand ODI and T20I 2026 updated: Full team lists for IND vs NZ series
Sachin Tendulkar’s ODI record
|
Matches |
Innings |
Runs |
NO |
HS |
Ave |
BF |
SR |
100 |
50 |
0 |
|
463 |
452 |
18426 |
41 |
200* |
44.83 |
21368 |
86.23 |
49 |
96 |
20 |
Most runs in ODI cricket history
Virat Kohli, who considers Tendulkar his idol, follows him in the all-time ODI top scorers list with 15,080 runs. While he’s reaching the climax of his career, he will do his best to overtake the batsman he has always looked up to.
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The overall list is dominated by Indians, with Sourav Ganguly and Rohit Sharma joining Kohli and Tendulkar. Sri Lankans also have a good representation with three batsmen featured.
Top 10 list of highest run scorers in ODI cricket
(Updated as of September 27, 2026)
|
Player |
Span |
Matches |
100s |
50s |
HS |
Runs |
|
Sachin Tendulkar (IND) |
1989-2012 |
463 |
49 |
96 |
200* |
18426 |
|
Virat Kohli (IND) |
2008-present |
315 |
55 |
79 |
183 |
15080 |
|
Kumar Sangakkara (SL) |
2000-2015 |
404 |
25 |
93 |
169 |
14234 |
|
Ricky Ponting (AUS) |
1995-2012 |
375 |
30 |
82 |
164 |
13704 |
|
Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) |
1989-2011 |
445 |
28 |
68 |
189 |
13430 |
|
Rohit Sharma (IND) |
2007-present |
289 |
34 |
62 |
264 |
11927 |
|
Mahela Jayawardene (SL) |
1998-2015 |
448 |
19 |
77 |
144 |
12650 |
|
Inzamam-ul-Haq (PAK) |
1991-2007 |
378 |
10 |
83 |
137* |
11739 |
|
Jacques Kallis (SA) |
1996-2014 |
328 |
17 |
86 |
139 |
11579 |
|
Sourav Ganguly (IND) |
1992-2007 |
311 |
22 |
72 |
183* |
11363 |
The Cricket News Opinion: Can Virat Kohli beat Sachin Tendulkar’s record?
Kohli is perhaps the best player to have graced ODI cricket; he’s the perfect blend of all that made his predecessors great, making him the epitome of what it means to be a batsman in this format.
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However, even for him, reaching Tendulkar’s record may be tough. It’s known that Kohli will do his best to play at the 2027 ODI World Cup; however, he is still more than 3000 runs short of the ‘Master Blaster’s’ record.
What made Tendulkar’s career impressive wasn’t just the talent and records, but also the longevity, and Kohli will need to reach those heights while maintaining his form if he ever looks to become the player with most runs in ODIs.
Will Virat Kohli break Sachin Tendulkar’s record? For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary, and to share your voice, head to our Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) pages.
