Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis shattered all the records and become the highest run scorer of 2024 across the formats. In this article, we will take a look at the other batters who have the most international runs in each calendar year since 2010.
Its almost the end of 2024 and the entire world is set to welcome another new year. Every year, the cricket world unlocked some incredible memories. By some outstanding knocks, some of the batters made the particular year unforgettable. Across the formats, they nailed the game with their batting brilliance.
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The Sri Lankan batter Kusal Mendis shattered all the records and become the highest run scorer of 2024 across the formats. In this article, we will take a look at the other batters who have the most international runs in each calendar year since 2010.
Most international runs in each calendar year
2024 - Kusal Mendis | 1860 Runs
In 2024, the Sri Lankan batter Kusal Mendis scored the most international runs and become the highest run scorer of 2024 across the formats. In 48 matches, he scored 1860 runs with 2 centuries and 11 half centuries.
Kusal's standout performance came against New Zealand, where he hammered a brilliant 143 in an ODI and recorded his highest score in this format. With a solid batting average of 37.20, he dominated in 2024.
2023 - Shubman Gill | 2154 Runs
Shubman Gill had an incredible year in 2023, during which he finished the highest run getter across formats with 2154 runs, including 7 centuries. He also slammed the most centuries by an Indian in this decade (12), more than Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Gill has become an integral part of Indian cricket team in the past couple of years. The 25-year-old has also been elevated to a leadership role in white-ball cricket as he was named the vice captain of limited overs format after India's T20 World Cup triumph.
2022 - Babar Azam | 2598 Runs
In 2022, Babar Azam became the Pakistan batter with the most runs in all formats of the game in a calendar year. Babar scored 2598 runs in 44 matches at an average of 54.12 in that year. His haul of eight hundreds and 17 fifties during the calendar year was Babar's best of his career to date.
Babar broke more individual records in that year and ensured Pakistan's star continued to shine brightly. He was the only player to breach the 2000-run mark during the calendar year.
2021 - Mohammad Rizwan | 1915 Runs
Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan had a stunning year in 2021 with 1915 runs in 44 internationals at an average of 56.32 with two centuries. Rizwan ruled the roost in 2021 when it came to the shortest format of the game. Aggregating a staggering 1326 runs in only 29 matches, Rizwan struck at an average of 73.66 and a strike-rate of 134.89.
Apart from his exploits with the bat, he was as solid as ever behind the stumps, playing a key role in Pakistan's run to the semifinals during the T20 World Cup 2021.
2020 - Aaron Finch | 944 Runs
Former Australian limited over captain Aaron Finch scored the most international runs in 2020. He smashed 944 runs in 21 innings at an average of 47.20. He recorded 2 centuries and 6 half centuries to his name. He also scored 99 fours and 21 sixes this year.
2019 - Virat Kohli | 2455 Runs
Virat Kohli finished 2019 on a high, finishing as the leading run-getter across all formats in the year with 2,455 runs with seven centuries, including his career-high Test score of 254 not out. Kohli scored 1,377 runs in 26 ODIs, 612 runs in eight Tests and 466 runs in 10 T20Is in 2019.
2018 - Virat Kohli | 2735 Runs
Virat Kohli once again dominated a year in international cricket as a batsman. Kohli ended the year 2018 as the number-one ranked batsman in international cricket for the second-time running but more importantly, it was his team which consolidated its position at the top of the team rankings in Test cricket.
Kohli scored 2735 runs across all formats in the year with 11 hundreds but he also became the first Asian captain to register Test wins in Australia, England and South Africa in the same calendar year.
2017 - Virat Kohli | 2818 Runs
Virat Kohli finished 2017 with a staggering 2818 international runs across international formats. The India captain scored 1059 runs in 10 Tests, 1460 runs in 26 ODIs and 299 runs in 10 T20 Internationals. Kohli hammered 11 hundreds including three double centuries (one vs Bangladesh and two vs Sri Lanka).
2016 - Virat Kohli | 2595 Runs
The year 2016 is often regarded as one of the best years for Virat Kohli due to his exceptional performances across all formats of cricket. He treated himself to 2,595 runs in 41 international innings that year to go along with 973 runs in the Indian Premier League.
Apart from that, he lead the Indian Test team to series wins against West Indies, New Zealand and England and he single-handedly powered Royal Challengers Bangalore to the final of the IPL this year.
2015 - Kane Williamson | 2692 Runs
Former New Zealand skipper, Kane Williamson had a prolific year in 2015. The Kiwi scored 2,692 runs averaging over 65. In 8 Tests, that year, he finished with 1,172 runs at an average of 90 with 5 centuries to his name.
Williamson also helped the Kiwis to reach the World Cup finals and amassed over 1,000 runs in ODIs as well.
2014 - Kumar Sangakkara | 2868 Runs
Former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara tops the charts when it comes to most runs scored in a calendar year. In 48 matches, Sangakkara scored 2,868 runs at an average of over 50.
Sangakkara made 1438 runs in 21 innings in the longest format at an average of 71.90 with the help of four centuries and eight half-centuries. Playing 28 ODIs that year, he slammed 1256 runs at an average of 46.51, again, the highest in his individual career.
2013 - AB de Villiers | 2181 Runs
Former South African skipper, AB de Villiers is regarded as one of the greatest cricketers in the history of the sport and the best batsman of his era. He had a stellar year in 2013. AB scored 2,181 runs averaging 54.52 in 45 innings of 43 matches. He also smashed seven centuries and 12 half-centuries.
2012 - Michael Clarke | 2251 Runs
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke finished 2012 with a staggering 2251 international runs across international formats in 32 innings of 26 matches at an average of 77.62. Clarke hammered 6 hundreds and 8 half-centuries.
Clarke also became the first man to score four Test double-hundreds in a calendar year as his side dominated South Africa on day one of the second Test in Adelaide.
2011 - Kumar Sangakkara | 2267 Runs
In 2011, no one else came close to the 2,267 runs Kumar Sangakkara scored in all international cricket, and he is now the only man to have topped 1,000 runs in Tests and one-day internationals in a single year on three separate occasions.
2010 - Hashim Amla | 2307 Runs
Former South African cricketer, Hashim Amla had a prolific year in 2010. He scored 2,307 runs in that year. He also recorded his first Test double century against India in this year.