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.

Also Read: Highest Scores in WTC 2021-23

#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.

Read Also: Every nominee in ICC Awards 2021

#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.

Also Read: Virat Kohli Stats: Kohli's international runs in 2021 in detail

#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.

Read Also: Most Test matches played in cricket history

#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.

Also Read: Most international runs in a calendar year

#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.

When discussing leadership roles in Indian cricket history, the conversation inevitably turns to MS Dhoni and his impact as a captain. His tenure as India's captain (2007-2017) saw the golden days of not only reaching the finals but also tasting victory.

The "Captain Cool" led India to an impressive 4 ICC Finals and secured a win in 3 of them. He is the only Indian captain to win all 3: the ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy in his career.

Here we bring you MS Dhoni's captaincy record in ICC Finals:

2007 T20 World Cup: Kicking off with a win

The 2007 T20 World Cup marked a significant moment in Indian cricket, not just for their inaugural win, but for the beginning of MS Dhoni's captaincy era. Having stepped into the leadership role for the very first time in the tournament, he led a relatively inexperienced squad and brought victory home.

Throughout the season, he guided the team with a calm approach and showed tactical brilliance with his choices in high-pressure situations. In the final against Pakistan, his main impact was behind the stumps, making great choices.

In a tense last over, with PAK needing 13 runs and Misbah-ul-Haq at the crease, he made a bold move by handing the ball to Joginder Sharma, who lacked experience. This tactical gamble paid off brilliantly when Misbah attempted a scoop shot and was caught by Sreesanth, securing India a 5-run victory.

Read Also: 10 Forgotten Indian Cricketers and Their Stories

2011 ODI World Cup: A nation's dream

The 2011 ODI World Cup Final against Sri Lanka on home soil is something the fans will remember for a long time. After a challenging target of 275 runs set by SL, India's chase collapsed early as they lost key wickets of Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar.

Dhoni chose to promote himself to bat at no. 5 and formed a crucial partnership with Gautam Gambhir. He scored an unbeaten 91 runs and sealed the victory with a majestic six, bringing home India's second WC title after 28 years.

He was also named player of the match for his batting and wicket-keeping contribution. After this victory, he became the second Indian captain, after Kapil Dev in 1983, to lead India to a World Cup triumph.

Read Also: 16 Indian Cricketers with stands named after them at a stadium

2013 Champions Trophy: Completing the set

The 2013 Champions Trophy saw Dhoni complete the set with a 5-run victory over England in the Final. India successfully defended a low total of 130 runs in the second half, showcasing great bowling efforts from the unit.

Talking about Dhoni's performance, he could not do much with the bat like many other players, and went out for a duck. However, his agility behind the stumps and ball rotation choices did the trick well for them.

With this victory, India achieved their second Champions Trophy title.

Read Also: ICC tournaments hosted by India – History & Highlights

2014 T20 World Cup: Runners-up finish

In the 2014 T20 World Cup, India showed a dominant form and reached the finals with an unbeaten record. Despite Virat Kohli's great efforts (77 runs off 58 balls), India struggled with the bat overall, posting a total of 130/4. Dhoni scored 4 runs off 7 balls and failed to accelerate the runs. 

Sri Lanka comfortably chased he target to clinch their first T20 World Cup title. Although India lost, it was MS Dhoni's second T20 World Cup Final as a captain, which highlights his consistent presence and contribution in major ICC clashes.

The comparison between Babar Azam and Virat Kohli is one of the most discussed topics in the cricketing world. Although Virat made his debut much earlier in 2008, while Babar played his first international match in 2015, the debate about these two batting superstars across various formats continues to thrive. 

Both Kohli and Babar were U-19 stars. Kohli won the ODI World Cup in 2011, Champions Trophy in 2013 and T20 World Cup in 2024 with India, while Babar’s only international triumph is the Champions Trophy in 2017.

Here we take a look at the Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam stats comparison in ICC tournaments and see who has been a better batter in terms of numbers and stats. 

Also Read: Joe Root vs Sachin Tendulkar – Test Stats Compared: Can Root break Sachin's record

Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam: ICC ODI Events

ICC ODI World Cup

Kohli has played 37 ODI World Cup matches across four editions, scoring 1,795 runs at an average of 59.83 and a strike rate of 88.20, with five hundreds and 12 half-centuries. The former India captain has been dismissed without scoring only once in the ICC event. His best of 117 came off 113 balls against New Zealand in the 2023 ODI World Cup semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Looking at Babar's record in the ODI World Cup, he has played 17 matches and has scored 794 runs at an average of 52.93 and a strike rate of 85.74, with one hundred and seven fifties. He is yet to be dismissed for a duck in a World Cup match. Babar's only ton in the ODI World Cup came against New Zealand in Birmingham in 2019, when scored 101* off 127 balls.

ICC Champions Trophy

Looking at his stats in the Champions Trophy, Kohli has played 17 innings and has scored 747 runs at an average of 74.07 and a strike rate of 89.04, with six half-centuries and one century to his name. He has been dismissed without scoring on one occasion.

Babar has featured two Champions Trophies. In seven matches so far, he has scored 220 runs at an average of 44.00 and a strike rate of 74.08, with just one fifty. In the 2017 edition that Pakistan won, Babar contributed 133 runs in five innings (two not outs) at an average of 44.33 and a strike rate of 74.71. Again, Kohli has a better average and strike rate than Babar in the Champions Trophy.

Also Read: Indian Cricketers with Most ICC Titles

Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam: ICC T20I Events

ICC T20 World Cup

Virat is the all times highest run scorer in the history of the T20 World Cup. In 33 matches, Virat has scored 1292 runs at a strike rate 128.8 of and an average of 58.7. Kohli has also scored 15 half-centuries with a top score of 89 not out to his name.

Babar, on the other hand, has played only 3 editions of the T20 World Cup. In 2021, he was the top run-scorer after he made 303 runs from 6 games at an average of 60.60. In 17 T20 World Cup matches, Babar has scored 549 runs at an average of 36.6.

Cricket is a game of glorious highs, as well as, not-so-glorious lows at times! Besides the massive sixes, aerial catches, and other heroic moments, there's the other side of the game where a player walks back in the pavilion without scoring a single run.

You got it right, we are talking about the infamous "duck." So, get ready to discover the top 10 players with most ducks in ICC events.

Here's the complete list:

10. Mohammed Siraj (11 ducks) | India

Known for his fiery and aggressive bowling for India, Mohammed Siraj holds the 10th place for most ducks in ICC events, which clearly states how batting is not his forte. Siraj has a total of 11 ducks out of 51 innings.

Read Also: ICC Trophy winners list year-wise (2000-2025)

9. Virat Kohli (11 ducks) | India

Virat Kohli being here is perhaps the most astonishing name on the list. Apart from his exceptional batting records across all formats, and having scored 6451 runs in ICC events, he also has 11 ducks in 166 innings.

8. Khaled Ahmed (12 ducks) | Bangladesh

A right-arm medium fast bowler from Bangladesh, Khaled Ahmed, appears in the list for having 12 ducks in ICC events in the span of 2021 to 2024. His focus is primarily on bowling and he serves as a typical lower-order batsman.

7. Mominul Haque (12 ducks) | Bangladesh

Another Bangladeshi player with 12 ducks makes his way on the list. Mominul Haque, a left-handed batter and former captain of Bangladesh, holds the 7th position, despite delivering impressive ICC performances.

6. Keshav Maharaj (12 ducks) | South Africa

South Africa's leading orthodox spinner, Keshav Maharaj, who is known for his ability to surprise with the bat sometimes, also has 12 ducks in 65 innings. He is the only South African player in the list.

Read Also: Is 2025 the miraculous year in sports history?

5. Jonny Bairstow (12 ducks) | England

Jonny Bairstow found himself walking back to the dugout without scoring a single run 12 times in an ICC event. His explosive strokeplay and skill-set is undeniably good, but it is the count for ducks that places him at no. 5 in here.

4. James Anderson (12 ducks) | England

England's legendary fast bowler, James Anderson, also has 12 ducks in ICC events, spanning from 2003 to 2024. For a player whose career has been defined by his unparalleled legacy, a few early dismissals do not really matter.

Read Also: 6 cricketers who announced their retirements since last month

3. Pat Cummins (13 ducks) | Australia

Australia's captain and one of the world's premier all-rounder, Pat Cummins, has been out for a duck 13 times in ICC events. He has been remarkable with the ball and also backed up the team as a handy lower-order batter.

However, the intense quality of bowling and pressure in ICC tournaments make the best ones falter.

2. Tim Southee (14 ducks) | New Zealand

Next up is New Zealand's swing master, who often showed a knack for hitting some powerful boundaries while batting down the order. That's right! Tim Southee has 14 ducks in ICC events, which is the second-most by any player.

Read Also: Most runs in an over in tests

1. Jasprit Bumrah (21 ducks) | India

As we come down to the final name on the list, we find the world's best bowler Jasprit Bumrah, with 21 ducks, holding the place tight. The one who so frequently dismisses opponents for a duck, and holds spectacular bowling records, tops this chart as well.

Bumrah has stunned fans every time he has come down to play. Be it scoring the most runs in a single over in tests or having the most ducks, this man will get you everything!

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is cricket’s global governing body, overseeing various prestigious tournaments. These include the ICC Cricket World Cup, T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy, and the World Test Championship. The ICC tournaments are considered the most prestigious in cricket, and players strive to lift the trophies.

India have always had the services of the best players. And thanks to them, India have been a consistent force in world cricket. The same consistency is visible in the ICC tournaments. This has helped the Indian team win seven ICC trophies over the years. A few players have been part of several of these victorious campaigns.

Also Read: Most Centuries in World Cup History

So, let's take a look at the Indian Cricketers with Most ICC Titles.

Indian Cricketers with Most ICC Titles

6. Harbhajan Singh | 3 Titles

• 2002 Champions Trophy (shared with Sri Lanka)
• 2007 T20 World Cup
• 2011 Cricket World Cup

Having started his career in 1998, Harbhajan Singh is one of the few Indian cricketers to have won all three ICC white-ball titles. 

He was part of India's 2002 ICC Champions Trophy title-winning campaign, where they were joint winners with Sri Lanka. Five years later, he played a key role in India's triumph in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup, in 2007. He was also a part of India's 2011 ODI World Cup winning squad.

5. Yuvraj Singh | 3 Titles

• 2002 Champions Trophy (shared with Sri Lanka)
• 2007 T20 World Cup
• 2011 Cricket World Cup

One of India's greatest all-rounders, Yuvraj Singh has also won all three ICC white-ball tournaments. He was part of the teams that won the 2002 Champions Trophy, 2007 T20 World Cup, and 2011 ODI World Cup.

In the 2011 ODI World Cup, Yuvraj was the Player of the Tournament for his stellar all-round performance. He made history in the 2007 T20I World Cup by hitting six sixes in an over against England.

4. Ravindra Jadeja | 3 Titles

• 2013 Champions Trophy
• 2024 T20 World Cup
• 2025 Champions Trophy

After India lifted the 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai, Ravindra Jadeja went level with Dhoni. The star all-rounder now has three ICC trophies.

Before the latest win, Jadeja was part of another Champions Trophy victory in 2013. He picked up the most wickets in that tournament to win the Golden Ball. Fast forward to 11 years, and Jadeja found himself in the 2024 T20 World Cup-winning squad. After this, he retired from T20I cricket.

3. MS Dhoni | 3 Titles

• 2007 T20 World Cup
• 2011 Cricket World Cup
• 2013 Champions Trophy

MS Dhoni was the first Indian player to win three ICC trophies. Interestingly, he won all three of them as skipper. Under Dhoni’s leadership, India had a successful run in limited-overs. And he showed a glimpse of his tactical acumen early in his captaincy stint.

Captain Cool guided a young team to the inaugural T20 World Cup victory in 2007. Then he followed it with the ODI World Cup triumph in 2011. And Dhoni completed the ICC ODI tournament trophy with the Champions Trophy win in 2013.

2. Rohit Sharma | 4 Titles

• 2007 T20 World Cup
• 2013 Champions Trophy
• 2024 T20 World Cup
• 2025 Champions Trophy

Rohit Sharma is level with Kohli when it comes to ICC trophy victories. The current Indian captain has won two of the four titles while leading the Indian team. Before that, he was part of the Indian team that won the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. 

Then, alongside Kohli, he took India to the Champions Trophy victory in 2013. Rohit repeated the feat in 2024 and 2025, but this time as a captain. He guided the Men in Blue to the T20 World Cup win in 2024, followed by the Champions Trophy triumph in 2025.

Also Read: Joe Root vs Sachin Tendulkar – Test Stats Compared: Can Root break Sachin's record

1. Virat Kohli | 4 Titles

• 2011 Cricket World Cup
• 2013 Champions Trophy
• 2024 T20 World Cup
• 2025 Champions Trophy

Virat Kohli has been a proven match-winner for India. And the same is true when it comes to ICC events. The top-order batter hardly fails to perform in these high-stakes tournaments. He has powered the team to many wins, including four ICC title victories.

Kohli managed to land his hands on an ICC trophy for the first time in 2011. He was part of the 2011 World Cup squad that defeated Sri Lanka in the final at home. Two years later, he was on the podium yet again as India won the Champions Trophy in England. But then Kohli had to endure a decade’s wait to add the third title. He helped India win the T20 World Cup in 2024 before clinching his fourth silverware in 2025 as India landed the Champions Trophy.

The ICC men’s ODI World Cup has witnessed some of the greatest batters exhibiting their best in the quest for world glory. The World Cup is watched by millions of viewers across the globe, all thanks to the incredibly entertaining cricket action.

World Cup allows players to display their talents to the fullest, but oftentimes, players perform at a whole other level. Teams have exceeded 400 runs on the scorecard, batsmen have hit double centuries, and bowlers have dismissed entire teams for double-digit totals.

The World Cup has seen its share of highs and lows, but today, we take a look at the individual record for most centuries. So, let's take a look at the batters with most centuries in World Cup history.

Also Read: Youngest Indian cricketers to score an international century

Most Centuries in World Cup

6. Ricky Ponting | 5

Ricky Ponting also scored 5 centuries in World Cup history. In a glorious career spanning 46 World Cup matches between 1996 and 2011, he notched 1,743 runs.

His best score during this period was 140 not out. Under ponting's leadership, Australia bagged three World Cup titles.

5. Virat Kohli | 5

Virat Kohli has scored five centuries in World Cups across 36 innings. He played his first ever ODI World Cup in 2011 and has been a part of every squad that played the following World Cups.

In 2011, on his World Cup debut, Kohli scored a century. His next century came in 2015 against Pakistan. But it was in the 2023 World Cup that Kohli was at his absolute best, scoring three centuries. He is overall the second-highest run scorer in World Cups, with 1795 runs.

4. Kumar Sangakkara | 5

Kumar Sangakkara is the highest run-scorer for Sri Lanka in ODI cricket history. Not just that, he has also scored the most centuries by a Sri Lankan player at the World Cup.

In 37 World Cup matches, Sangakkara scored five centuries, which were a part of the 1532 runs he scored in World Cups at an average of 56.74.

3. Sachin Tendulkar | 6

There is nearly no World Cup batting record of which Sachin Tendulkar is not a part. Tendulkar, who played six World Cups in his career, smashed six centuries in 44 innings. Sachin is also the top run-scorer in World Cup history, having amassed 2278 runs in 45 matches.

2011, when India broke their 28-year losing streak, was Sachin’s last World Cup. He also holds the record for the most fifties in World Cup history, with a total of 15 of them.

2. David Warner | 6

Australia’s destructive opening batsman David Warner comes second on this list. Warner has played every World Cup starting from the 2015 edition, and has scored six centuries in 29 innings. Two of these centuries came in the 2023 World Cup in India.

Overall from 2015 to 2023, he has scored 1527 runs in 29 games. His top score is 178 runs which came in the 2015 World Cup clash against Afghanistan. 

Also Read: Most Test Wins by a Team since 2010

1. Rohit Sharma | 7

Indian cricket team skipper Rohit Sharma tops the list of most centuries in World Cup history. Rohit has scored a total of 7 centuries in World Cup history so far.

In a brilliant performance during the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, Rohit Sharma shattered his 7th century against Afghanistan. Rohit has scored 1575 runs in 28 innings from 2015 to 2023, in which his best score has been 140 runs.