Sachin Tendulkar has owned the record for the most ODI runs for more than two decades. He finished his career in 2012 with 18,426 runs, a total no one has approached since. The closest anyone has come is Virat Kohli, who crossed 15,000 runs on 27 September 2026 to strengthen his hold on second place. Below is the list of the top 15 run-scorers in ODI history, with matches, strike rate, average, fifties and hundreds for each.
List of Players With Most Runs in ODI
Sachin Tendulkar leads the all-time ODI run charts, with Virat Kohli the only active player inside the top five. The top 15 are set out below.
| # | Player | Matches | Runs | SR | Average | 50s | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sachin Tendulkar | 463 | 18,426 | 86.23 | 44.83 | 96 | 49 |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | 317 | 15,109 | 94.36 | 58.78 | 79 | 55 |
| 3 | Kumar Sangakkara | 404 | 14,234 | 78.86 | 41.98 | 93 | 25 |
| 4 | Ricky Ponting | 375 | 13,704 | 80.39 | 42.03 | 82 | 30 |
| 5 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 445 | 13,430 | 91.20 | 32.36 | 68 | 28 |
| 6 | Mahela Jayawardene | 448 | 12,650 | 78.96 | 33.37 | 77 | 19 |
| 7 | Rohit Sharma | 291 | 12,120 | 93.38 | 49.26 | 62 | 35 |
| 8 | Inzamam-ul-Haq | 378 | 11,739 | 74.24 | 39.52 | 83 | 10 |
| 9 | Jacques Kallis | 328 | 11,579 | 72.89 | 44.36 | 86 | 17 |
| 10 | Sourav Ganguly | 311 | 11,363 | 73.70 | 41.02 | 72 | 22 |
| 11 | Rahul Dravid | 344 | 10,889 | 71.23 | 39.16 | 83 | 12 |
| 12 | MS Dhoni | 350 | 10,773 | 87.56 | 50.57 | 73 | 10 |
| 13 | Chris Gayle | 301 | 10,480 | 87.19 | 37.83 | 54 | 25 |
| 14 | Brian Lara | 299 | 10,405 | 79.51 | 40.48 | 63 | 19 |
| 15 | Tillakaratne Dilshan | 330 | 10,290 | 86.23 | 39.27 | 47 | 22 |
1. Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 18,426 Runs
| Span | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | SR | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989-2012 | 463 | 18,426 | 200* | 44.83 | 86.23 | 49 | 96 |
Sachin Tendulkar is the most prolific batter in ODI history, with 18,426 runs across a 23-year career from 1989 to 2012. He was the first player to reach 10,000, 15,000 and 18,000 ODI runs, and the first to score a double century in the format, an unbeaten 200 against South Africa in 2010. His 49 hundreds stood as the record until Kohli passed it, and his 96 fifties remain the most by any batter. Tendulkar opened for India for most of his career and finished as the leading run-scorer in World Cup history. More than a decade after his retirement, his run tally is still untouched.
2. Virat Kohli (India) – 15,109 Runs
| Span | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | SR | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-present | 317 | 15,109 | 183 | 58.78 | 94.36 | 55 | 79 |
Virat Kohli is second on the all-time list and the only active batter in the top five. He crossed 15,000 ODI runs on 27 September 2026, during his unbeaten 139 against West Indies in the 1st ODI, becoming just the second player after Tendulkar to reach the mark and the fastest to get there. Kohli averages close to 60, the highest among everyone on this list, and his 55 hundreds are the most in ODI history. Known for his run-chasing, he has built his tally batting mainly at No. 3. On 15,109 runs, he is the one player with a genuine shot at Tendulkar’s record.
3. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 14,234 Runs
| Span | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | SR | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-2015 | 404 | 14,234 | 169 | 41.98 | 78.86 | 25 | 93 |
Kumar Sangakkara sits third with 14,234 ODI runs for Sri Lanka between 2000 and 2015. A wicketkeeper-batter for much of his career, he combined heavy scoring with the most dismissals by any keeper in the format. Sangakkara saved his best for the end, scoring four hundreds in a row at the 2015 World Cup, a feat no one else has managed. His 93 fifties are among the most in ODI history, and his 25 centuries came at an average near 42. Batting mostly at No. 3, he anchored Sri Lanka’s middle order for 15 years and remains their leading run-scorer in the format.
4. Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 13,704 Runs
| Span | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | SR | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-2012 | 375 | 13,704 | 164 | 42.03 | 80.39 | 30 | 82 |
Ricky Ponting is fourth with 13,704 ODI runs, the most by any player outside the subcontinent. Australia’s most successful captain, he led them to two of their World Cup titles and scored 30 hundreds across a career from 1995 to 2012. Ponting batted at No. 3 for most of his career and paired aggression with consistency, passing fifty 112 times in all. His 82 fifties and 30 centuries reflect a player who converted starts more often than most. For years he was the closest challenger to Tendulkar’s record, and he remains the highest run-scorer Australia has produced in the one-day game.
5. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) – 13,430 Runs
| Span | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | SR | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989-2011 | 445 | 13,430 | 189 | 32.36 | 91.20 | 28 | 68 |
Sanath Jayasuriya changed one-day batting with his attacking approach at the top of the order. The Sri Lankan left-hander scored 13,430 runs between 1989 and 2011, striking at over 91 an over in an era when that was rare. His 28 hundreds often came at speed, including a 189 against India, and he also took more than 300 wickets with his left-arm spin. Jayasuriya’s fearless starts helped redefine how teams used the powerplay overs. He sits fifth on the all-time run list and remains one of the most destructive openers the format has seen, with a strike rate that still stands out among the top 15.
6. Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) – 12,650 Runs
| Span | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | SR | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-2015 | 448 | 12,650 | 144 | 33.37 | 78.96 | 19 | 77 |
Mahela Jayawardene is sixth with 12,650 ODI runs for Sri Lanka from 1998 to 2015. An elegant middle-order batter, he built his tally on timing and placement rather than power, passing fifty 96 times in all. Jayawardene played two World Cup finals and holds the record for the most catches by a fielder in ODIs. His highest score of 144 came in a World Cup, and his 77 fifties reflect a career of steady contributions at No. 4 and No. 5. Alongside Sangakkara, he formed one of the most productive middle-order pairs in the format’s history and remains among Sri Lanka’s greatest batters.
7. Rohit Sharma (India) – 12,120 Runs
| Span | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | SR | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-present | 291 | 12,120 | 264 | 49.26 | 93.38 | 35 | 62 |
Rohit Sharma is seventh with 12,120 runs and the second-highest active scorer behind Kohli. The India opener is the only player with three ODI double centuries, including the record score of 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014. Rohit made 32 in the 1st ODI against West Indies then 101 in the 2nd ODI, and his 35 hundreds are the third-most in the format. He moved to the top of the order in 2013 and has scored the bulk of his runs there, including a record five centuries at the 2019 World Cup. At an average 49.26 and a strike rate above 93.38, he remains central to India’s batting.
8. Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan) – 11,739 Runs
| Span | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | SR | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991-2007 | 378 | 11,739 | 137* | 39.52 | 74.24 | 10 | 83 |
Inzamam-ul-Haq is eighth with 11,739 ODI runs, the most by any Pakistan batter in the format. A dependable middle-order presence from 1991 to 2007, he passed fifty 93 times, though only 10 of those were hundreds. Inzamam was known for his calm temperament and his ability to build an innings, often finishing games from No. 3 or No. 4. He announced himself as a teenager at the 1992 World Cup, which Pakistan won, and went on to captain the side. His 83 fifties are among the most in ODI history, reflecting a career built on consistency rather than flashy scores.
9. Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 11,579 Runs
| Span | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | SR | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-2014 | 328 | 11,579 | 139 | 44.36 | 72.89 | 17 | 86 |
Jacques Kallis is ninth with 11,579 ODI runs, part of an all-round career that also brought more than 270 wickets. The South African batted at No. 3 and No. 4 across 1996 to 2014, combining a solid technique with the ability to bowl at genuine pace. His 86 fifties are among the most in the format, though his 17 hundreds came at a measured strike rate below 73. Kallis is one of the most complete cricketers the game has produced, and among ODI batters with 10,000 runs, few matched his all-round value. He remains South Africa’s leading run-scorer in the one-day game.
10. Sourav Ganguly (India) – 11,363 Runs
| Span | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | SR | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992-2007 | 311 | 11,363 | 183 | 41.02 | 73.70 | 22 | 72 |
Sourav Ganguly is tenth with 11,363 ODI runs and one of India’s most influential openers. Between 1992 and 2007 he formed a prolific opening pair with Tendulkar, and his 22 hundreds included a 183 against Sri Lanka at the 1999 World Cup. Ganguly drove through the off side as well as anyone of his era and captained India to the 2003 World Cup final. His strike rate of 73 reflects the tempo of his time, but his output at the top of the order was steady and heavy. He remains one of the leading run-scorers India has produced in the one-day format.
11. Rahul Dravid (India) – 10,889 Runs
| Span | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | SR | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-2011 | 344 | 10,889 | 153 | 39.16 | 71.23 | 12 | 83 |
Rahul Dravid is eleventh with 10,889 ODI runs, a total built on reliability rather than flair. Known as The Wall, he batted through the middle order for India from 1996 to 2011 and kept wicket for a spell to balance the side. Dravid passed fifty 95 times in all, though only 12 were hundreds, and his strike rate of 71 reflects his anchoring role. He shared several large partnerships, including a then-record stand with Tendulkar, and played a key part in India’s run to the 2003 World Cup final. His run tally underlines how valuable his consistency was over 15 years.
12. MS Dhoni (India) – 10,773 Runs
| Span | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | SR | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-2019 | 350 | 10,773 | 183* | 50.57 | 87.56 | 10 | 73 |
MS Dhoni is twelfth with 10,773 ODI runs and the highest average on this list at 50.57. India’s most successful captain led them to the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy, and his finishing in run chases became the standard for the role. Dhoni batted in the middle order and remained not out in 84 of his 297 innings, a record number that lifted his average. Though he scored only 10 hundreds, his 73 fifties and calm under pressure defined a generation of Indian cricket. A wicketkeeper-batter, he also holds the record for the most stumpings in ODIs.
13. Chris Gayle (West Indies) – 10,480 Runs
| Span | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | SR | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-2019 | 301 | 10,480 | 215 | 37.83 | 87.19 | 25 | 54 |
Chris Gayle is thirteenth with 10,480 ODI runs, the most by any West Indies batter. A destructive left-handed opener from 1999 to 2019, he scored 25 hundreds, including a 215 against Zimbabwe at the 2015 World Cup, one of the highest scores in the format. Gayle struck at over 87 an over and cleared the ropes more often than almost any opener of his time. His power at the top of the order made him a constant threat in any conditions. Though his fifty count is lower than others here, his ability to win games on his own set him apart.
14. Brian Lara (West Indies) – 10,405 Runs
| Span | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | SR | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990-2007 | 299 | 10,405 | 169 | 40.48 | 79.51 | 19 | 63 |
Brian Lara is fourteenth with 10,405 ODI runs, scored between 1990 and 2007 for West Indies. One of the finest batters of his generation, Lara was better known for his Test feats but was a heavy scorer in one-day cricket too, with 19 hundreds and a highest of 169. He batted through the middle order and captained West Indies for long stretches during a difficult period for the side. His timing and backlift were unmistakable, and he passed fifty 82 times in all. Lara remains one of only two West Indies batters to cross 10,000 ODI runs, alongside Gayle.
15. Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka) – 10,290 Runs
| Span | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | SR | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-2016 | 330 | 10,290 | 161* | 39.27 | 86.23 | 22 | 47 |
Tillakaratne Dilshan rounds out the top 15 with 10,290 ODI runs for Sri Lanka. He reinvented himself as an opener late in his career and thrived, scoring most of his 22 hundreds at the top of the order. Dilshan gave his name to the Dilscoop and mixed invention with steady accumulation from 1999 to 2016. He was a genuine all-rounder too, chipping in with off-spin and sharp fielding. His best year came at the 2011 World Cup, where he was the leading run-scorer as Sri Lanka reached the final. Dilshan is the fourth Sri Lankan inside this list, underlining the country’s depth of batting.
Verdict: Sachin Tendulkar Still Holds the Record for Most ODI Runs
Sachin Tendulkar remains the most prolific run-scorer in ODI history, and his 18,426 runs are still well clear of the field. Virat Kohli is the one batter with a realistic case to challenge it, sitting second on 15,080 and adding runs at an average near 60. He is already the fastest to 15,000 and holds the record for the most ODI centuries. Whether he can close a gap of more than 3,000 runs will depend on how long he keeps playing, but for now the record still belongs to Tendulkar.
