Most international runs by a captain

Scoring runs at the international level is what every player dreams to do. Meanwhile, it becomes more valuable when the player scores as captain for his country. Some of the skippers have scored the most runs for their country as captain rather than as a player of his side. In this article, SportzPoint will point out those players who have scored the most international runs as a captain across formats.

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#8. Sourav Ganguly | 5104 runs

Former Indian skipper and current BCCI president Sourav Ganguly have aggregated 5104 runs in 143 innings at an average of 38.67 across formats. Our very own Dada has enlisted himself at the eighth place on this list of players with the most international runs as captain of their side. Ganguly has registered 30 fifties and 11 hundred to his name as captain of team India across formats. He has also scored 144 runs as his highest score as captain of his side.

#7. Mohammad Azharuddin | 5243 runs

Another former Indian skipper has registered his name on this list. It's Mohammed Azharuddin, who captained India till Sourav Ganguly take over the captaincy from him. He comes at number seven on our list with 5243 runs to his name. Azharuddin smashed those 5243 runs in 163 innings at an average of 39.13. Mohammed Azharuddin has registered 37 half-centuries and 4 centuries to his name as captain of team India. Azhar has also scored 153* runs as his highest score as a captain of his side.

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#6. Graeme Smith | 5416 runs

Former South African skipper come opener Graeme Smith has scored 5416 runs at an average of 38.96 across formats. He comes at sixth place on this list of players with the most international runs as captain. Smith has also proved his ability as captain with a good winning percentage in Tests. The former skipper has registered 37 half centuries and 8 centuries as a captain of the Proteas. He has also scored 141 runs as his highest score as captain of his side across formats.

#5. Virat Kohli | 5449* runs

Current Indian skipper Virat Kohli has the highest average(72.65) among all the captains who have scored the most international runs as captain. Kohli has aggregated 5449 runs in 91 innings with an average of 72.65 across formats. Moreover, he has registered his highest score of 160* as captain of team India. Kohli is not only a good batsman but also a great captain in the Red Ball format with wins as a captain in all SENA countries. Kohli has smashed 21 half-centuries and 27 centuries(most as captain) as captain of team India. Therefore, he comes at number five on this list.

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#4. Arjuna Ranatunga | 5608 runs

Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga has scored 5608 runs in 183 innings at an average of 37.64 as captain across formats. Ranatunga has captained SL in 193 games while hammering 131* runs as his highest score as captain. In those 193 games, Ranatunga has registered 37 half-centuries and 4 centuries as captain of the Sri Lankan team. Therefore, the former Lanka skipper has come at the fourth place on this list of captains who have scored the most international runs as captain.

#3. Stephen Fleming | 6295 runs

Former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming comes in third place on this list of players with the most international runs as captain. Fleming has aggregated 6295 runs in 208 innings at an average of 32.79 as captain across formats. Meanwhile, Fleming has registered 38 half-centuries and 7 centuries as captain of New Zealand. He has also scored 134* runs as his highest score as captain of his side.

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#2. Mahendra Singh Dhoni | 6641 runs

Another former Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni comes on this list. Dhoni has aggregated 6641 runs in 172 innings at an average of 53.56 as captain of team India. Therefore, he comes in second place on this list of players with the most international runs as captain. Mahi is one of the most successful captains in the limited-overs format with two World Cups(2007 & 2011) and a Champion's Trophy (2013) under his belt. He has registered 47 half-centuries and 6 centuries while playing as captain of India across formats. Dhoni has scored 139* runs as his highest score as captain of his side.

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#1. Ricky Ponting | 8497 runs

One of the most successful captains in the world of cricket, the former Aussies captain Ricky Ponting has topped this list with a huge 8497 runs under his name across formats. Ponting has aggregated 8497 runs in 220 innings at an average of 42.91 as a captain of the Aussies. He has won two back-to-back fifty overs World Cups(2003 & 2007) as captain.

Moreover, he has also grabbed the Champions Trophy back in 2009 as skipper of Australia. So, there is no doubt that Ricky Ponting is one of the most successful captains in world cricket. Ponting has registered 51 half-centuries and 22 centuries as captain of the Aussies across formats. The former Aussies captain has scored 164 runs as his highest score as captain of his side.

N.B: The stats are accurate as of 12/01/2022.