Sachin Tendulkar leads the all-time ODI run-scoring list with 18,426 runs, followed by Virat Kohli with 14,941, Kumar Sangakkara with 14,234, and Rohit Sharma with 11,720. This is the clearest all-time answer to the query Most Runs in ODI Cricket, and it also gives the key context readers usually want next: who is closest, who is active, and which batting records sit alongside the run tally.
Most runs in ODI cricket: all-time top 10
| Rank | Player | Span | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | Highest Score |
| 1 | Sachin Tendulkar | 1989-2012 | 463 | 452 | 18,426 | 44.83 | 86.23 | 49 | 96 | 200* |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | 2008-2026* | 314 | 302 | 14,941 | 58.60 | 93.50 | 54 | 79 | 183 |
| 3 | Kumar Sangakkara | 2000-2015 | 404 | 380 | 14,234 | 41.99 | 78.86 | 25 | 93 | 169 |
| 4 | Ricky Ponting | 1995-2012 | 375 | 365 | 13,704 | 42.04 | 80.39 | 30 | 82 | 164 |
| 5 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 1989-2011 | 445 | 433 | 13,430 | 32.36 | 91.20 | 28 | 68 | 189 |
| 6 | Mahela Jayawardene | 1998-2015 | 448 | 418 | 12,650 | 33.37 | 78.96 | 19 | 77 | 144 |
| 7 | Inzamam-ul-Haq | 1991-2007 | 378 | 350 | 11,739 | 39.52 | 74.24 | 10 | 83 | 137* |
| 8 | Rohit Sharma | 2007-2026* | 285 | 277 | 11,720 | 48.83 | 92.97 | 34 | 62 | 264 |
| 9 | Jacques Kallis | 1996-2014 | 328 | 314 | 11,579 | 44.36 | 72.89 | 17 | 86 | 139* |
| 10 | Sourav Ganguly | 1992-2007 | 311 | 300 | 11,363 | 41.02 | 73.70 | 22 | 72 | 183 |
Kohli is now 3,485 runs behind Tendulkar, and Rohit Sharma remains comfortably inside the all-time top 10. Kohli also leads this list in batting average, while Rohit owns the highest individual ODI score.
Read Also: Most Runs in Test Cricket: Top Run Scorers of All Time
Tendulkar vs Kohli
For readers comparing the two highest run-scorers in ODI history, this is the most useful direct snapshot.
| Metric | Sachin Tendulkar | Virat Kohli |
| Runs | 18,426 | 14,941 |
| Matches | 463 | 314 |
| Innings | 452 | 302 |
| Average | 44.83 | 58.60 |
| Strike Rate | 86.23 | 93.50 |
| 100s | 49 | 54 |
| 50s | 96 | 79 |
| Highest Score | 200* | 183 |
| Runs behind Tendulkar | – | 3,485 |
Kohli combines the second-highest ODI run total with the best average and strike rate among the top 10 players in this article. Tendulkar still leads on career accumulation, but Kohli leads on efficiency and ODI centuries.
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Key takeaways from the leaderboard
- Tendulkar’s lead over Kohli is 3,485 runs.
- Kohli has the highest average among the top 10.
- Kohli has the most ODI centuries with 54.
- Rohit Sharma has the highest individual ODI score with 264.
- The top 10 is a mix of long careers, top-order roles, and strong conversion rates.
Fastest to 10,000 ODI runs
| Rank | Player | Innings |
| 1 | Virat Kohli | 205 |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma | 241 |
| 3 | Sachin Tendulkar | 259 |
| 4 | Sourav Ganguly | 263 |
| 5 | Ricky Ponting | 266 |
| 6 | Jacques Kallis | 272 |
Virat Kohli holds the record for the fastest 10,000 ODI runs, reaching the milestone in 205 innings. Rohit Sharma reached it in 241 innings, while Tendulkar’s previous benchmark was 259 innings.
ODI century record
Virat Kohli holds the ODI century record with 54 hundreds. Sachin Tendulkar follows with 49, which was the long-standing benchmark before Kohli surpassed it.
Read more: Explore more cricket timelines, player profiles, team rivalries, and cricket records.
Why this leaderboard matters
The all-time ODI run list is one of the cleanest measures of sustained batting excellence. It rewards longevity, adaptability, and the ability to keep scoring across different conditions, eras, and roles.
It also gives readers a quick way to answer the most common follow-up questions: who leads, who is closest, who is most efficient, and which milestone records have been broken along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the most runs in ODI cricket?
Sachin Tendulkar has the most runs in ODI cricket with 18,426 runs. He still leads the all-time list by a clear margin, even after Virat Kohli’s latest update from the July 2026 England ODI series.
How far behind Sachin Tendulkar is Virat Kohli?
Virat Kohli is 3,485 runs behind Sachin Tendulkar in ODI cricket. That gap shows why Tendulkar’s record remains so difficult to catch, even for one of the greatest ODI batters ever.
Who is second in the all-time ODI runs list?
Virat Kohli is second all-time with 14,941 ODI runs. He also owns the highest batting average among the top 10 players in this article, which strengthens his case as the most efficient high-volume ODI batter.
Who has the highest average among the top ODI run-scorers?
Virat Kohli has the highest average among the top 10 ODI run-scorers listed here, at 58.60. That number helps explain why his record is often discussed as both productive and exceptionally efficient.
Who has the highest strike rate among the top ODI run-scorers?
Virat Kohli has the highest strike rate among the top 10 players in this article, at 93.50. Among the game’s biggest ODI run-scorers, that is a strong sign of modern-era scoring pace.
Who has the most centuries in ODI cricket?
Virat Kohli has the most centuries in ODI cricket with 54 hundreds. Sachin Tendulkar is next with 49, which was the standard for many years before Kohli went past it.
Who is the highest active ODI run-scorer?
Virat Kohli is the highest active ODI run-scorer, with Rohit Sharma next among the active players on the all-time list. Both remain central names in India’s ODI setup and sit inside the top 10 overall.
What is the fastest 10,000 ODI runs record?
Virat Kohli holds the record for the fastest 10,000 ODI runs, reaching the mark in 205 innings. He beat Sachin Tendulkar’s previous benchmark of 259 innings, which had stood for years.
Why do ICC ODI rankings not match the all-time runs list?
ICC ODI rankings measure current performance points, not lifetime career runs. A player can climb the rankings after a strong series without changing the all-time leaderboard, which is based on total career accumulation.
Why is Rohit Sharma’s 264 so important?
Rohit Sharma’s 264 is the highest individual score in ODI cricket. It remains one of the most iconic innings in limited-overs history and a record that still defines the upper edge of ODI batting.
