Most Runs in ODI Cricket — All-Time Batting Records 2026

One Day International cricket has produced some of the greatest batting performances in sports history. Among all the giants who have graced the 50-over format, one name towers above the rest — Sachin Tendulkar, with an almost mythical 18,426 runs across 463 innings. This record has stood since 2012 and may well stand for decades more.

Whether you are a seasoned fan or just getting into cricket, understanding the cricket glossary basics — what ODI format means, how averages are calculated, or what a strike rate signifies — will help you appreciate just how extraordinary these numbers are.

What Makes an ODI Run Tally Great?

Accumulating runs in ODI cricket requires consistency over hundreds of matches spanning years, sometimes decades. Factors like team selection, batting position, opposition quality, and pitch conditions all influence a career tally. Players at the top of this list managed to remain relevant across format evolutions — from the 1970s 60-over era to the modern power-play dominated game.

All-Time Most Runs in ODI Cricket — Top 15

Rank	Player	Country	Innings	Runs	Average	SR	100s	50s
1	Sachin Tendulkar	India	452	18,426	44.83	86.23	49	96
2	Kumar Sangakkara	Sri Lanka	380	14,234	41.98	78.86	25	93
3	Ricky Ponting	Australia	365	13,704	42.03	80.39	30	82
4	Sanath Jayasuriya	Sri Lanka	433	13,430	32.36	91.17	28	68
5	Mahela Jayawardene	Sri Lanka	418	12,650	33.37	78.96	19	77
6	Inzamam-ul-Haq	Pakistan	350	11,739	39.52	74.24	10	83
7	Jacques Kallis	South Africa	314	11,579	44.36	72.89	17	86
8	Sourav Ganguly	India	300	11,363	41.02	73.70	22	72
9	Rahul Dravid	India	318	10,889	39.16	71.24	12	83
10	Brian Lara	West Indies	289	10,405	40.48	79.32	19	63
11	Tillakaratne Dilshan	Sri Lanka	303	10,290	37.62	83.63	22	47
12	AB de Villiers	South Africa	218	9,577	53.50	101.06	25	53
13	MS Dhoni	India	297	10,773	50.57	87.56	10	73
14	Chris Gayle	West Indies	294	10,480	37.99	85.68	25	54
15	Virat Kohli	India	289	13,000+	57.32	93.17	50	72

Stats updated through early 2026. Kohli's figures include ongoing career.

Sachin Tendulkar — The Undisputed King

No conversation about ODI batting records can begin anywhere other than Sachin Tendulkar. The Mumbai legend played his first ODI in 1989 as a 16-year-old and his last in 2012. Over that 23-year span, he accumulated 18,426 runs — a figure that is roughly 4,000 more than the second-highest scorer, Kumar Sangakkara.

Tendulkar also holds the record for most ODI centuries (49), a mark that Virat Kohli has since surpassed. His 200* against South Africa in 2010 was the first-ever double century in ODI history.

Kumar Sangakkara — The Elegant No. 2

Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara sits second on the all-time list with 14,234 runs. Often considered the most elegant left-hander in modern cricket, Sangakkara was equally devastating against pace and spin. His 93 ODI fifties reflect extraordinary consistency, and his average of nearly 42 at a time when ODI batting averages were lower than today is remarkable.

Virat Kohli — The Top Active Scorer

Among currently active players (as of early 2026), Virat Kohli stands alone at the summit. With over 13,000 ODI runs and an average above 57 — the highest for any batter with more than 50 innings — Kohli has redefined what consistent ODI batting looks like. He surpassed Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI centuries in late 2023 and now has 50+ tons to his name.

Whether Kohli can eventually threaten Tendulkar's 18,426-run mark depends on how many more years he plays international ODI cricket. At his current rate, closing the gap is mathematically possible but would require several more years of sustained top-order batting.

For context on how these players compare to current IPL performers, check the IPL 2026 stats page.

Ricky Ponting — The Captain's Legacy

Australia's Ricky Ponting contributed 13,704 runs with the relentlessness that defined his captaincy era. A two-time World Cup-winning captain, Ponting's records were built in an era of more even pitches and before the advent of field restrictions that inflated modern batting numbers.

What Separates the Legends?

Looking at the table, a few patterns emerge:

• Longevity: Every player in the top 10 played more than 300 innings, underscoring that sustained excellence — not just peak brilliance — drives great run tallies.
• Average vs. Volume: AB de Villiers played fewer innings than most on this list but averaged over 53, showing that quality can rival quantity.
• Era: Players like Jayasuriya accumulated runs in a different power-play era. Modern batters like Kohli benefit from batting-friendly rules but also face better-prepared bowling attacks.

Will Anyone Break Tendulkar's Record?

Tendulkar's 18,426-run mark is the Everest of ODI batting. For any active player to break it, they would need to average 50+ runs per innings over another 100+ innings from their current total. The gap between Tendulkar and the second-highest scorer (Sangakkara, retired) is enormous.

Kohli is the only realistic candidate in the current generation, but overtaking the record would require him to play deep into his mid-to-late 30s at a high level — something that is possible but far from certain.

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FAQ

Who has the most ODI runs of all time? Sachin Tendulkar of India holds the record with 18,426 ODI runs scored across 463 innings between 1989 and 2012.

Will anyone break Tendulkar's ODI run record? It is extremely difficult. The gap between Tendulkar and the second-highest scorer is over 4,000 runs. Virat Kohli is the only active player who could theoretically approach this total, but it would require many more years of consistent ODI batting at the top order.

Who has the most ODI centuries? Virat Kohli surpassed Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI centuries in 2023 and now holds the record with 50+ ODI hundreds.

Who is the highest ODI run-scorer among active players in 2026? Virat Kohli is the leading active ODI run-scorer with over 13,000 runs at an average exceeding 57 — the best average of any batter with a large number of innings in the format.