Cricket, in its 145 years old glorious history has produced some exceptional batsmen, who not only conquered the world but also entered the record books after having carved out a special niche for themselves. With their impeccable performances, they not only achieved personal glory but also in the process, took their teams to unparalleled heights. 

Be it the oldest format Tests, One-day Internationals, or the newest inclusion in the form of Twenty-20 cricket. Along with the right temperament and technique, these legends excelled in every format of the game. Sportz Point here takes a look at the top batsmen with the most international runs in cricket history.

Also Read: Joe Root vs Sachin Tendulkar: Who is ahead after 145 Test matches? Full analysis

Most international runs in Cricket history

1. Sachin Tendulkar | India | 34,357 runs

India's Legend of the game, Sachin Tendulkar carried the weight expectations of a billion fans on his shoulders for over 23 years. From making his debut as a 16-year-old boy in 1989 to bidding adieu in his home ground, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai in 2013. The maestro represented India in a mammoth 782 innings and in the process created an unparalleled number of records, from 100 International runs to scoring the most runs ever in Tests and ODIs.

During his journey, Sachin scored 34,357 international runs - the highest ever by a player. He scored 15,921 runs in 200 Tests while 18,426 runs in ODIs and even played a T20I towards the end of his career. The Master Blaster is leading the charts of all-time most international runs.

2. Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 28,016 runs

One of the most elegant left-handers to have ever played the game, Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara was a treat to watch when in full flow. From awe-inspiring cover drive against the pacer to aggressively taking on the spinners. Sangakkara, during his 15-year career, gave Sri Lanka and cricket fans around the World multiple reasons to celebrate.

From 2000 to 2015, Sangakkara played a total of 594 international games, Which included 134 Tests, 404 ODIs, and 56 T20Is. With a total of 28,016 runs in those matches, Sangakkara sits on second on the list of batsmen with the most international runs.

Moreover, with 153 half-centuries to go with 63 hundred during this period is the highlight of Sangakkara's international career. With 11 double-centuries in his Test career, Sangakkara sits beside the legends of the game.

3. Ricky Ponting | Australia | 27,483 runs

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting was an inspiring leader. He also is the most successful run-maker in Australian cricket history. In a career spanning 17 years, Ponting took Australian cricket to unparalleled heights with the combination of his leadership skills and batting.

Ponting represented Australia in 560 international matches(668 innings). He scored 27,483 runs at an average of 45.95 across formats. Ponting scored a total of 71 tons in his international career. He has over 13000 runs in both Test & ODI cricket.

4. Virat Kohli | India | 26942 Runs

India's most successful and former skipper Virat Kohli is just behind Ponting in terms of international runs. Virat Kohli has a pile of runs to his name in all formats of the game. Moreover, we can call him the giant of the game in all formats. 

However, Virat has scored a total of 26942* runs in just 591 innings in his career so far. Also, he is just 58 runs away from reaching an incredible 27,000 international runs. Virat scored a total of 80 tons and 140 half-centuries across formats of the game. He also averages 53.35 with the highest score of 254* in across formats.

Also Read: T20I records by Virat Kohli

5. Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 25,957 runs

It would be a surprise if the Sri Lankan legend Mahela Jayawardene didn't come on this list. Like Sangakkara, Mahela was also a classical batsman with most international runs.

Mahela scored 25,957 runs during his 652 international career matches(725 innings), including 136 half centuries and 54 tons. Mahela finished his career with 11814 runs in Tests, 12650 runs in ODIs, and 1493 runs in T20Is.

6. Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 25,534 runs

The great all-rounder of all time, purely in terms of numbers. South Africa's Jacques Kallis showed the world how a player can excel in all departments of the game. Jacques Kallis played 519 international matches(617 innings) in his career where he scored 25.534 runs to go with 577 wickets. The South African legend scored 62 tons along with 149 half-centuries during his reign in international cricket.

Kallis just always had the right technique and mindset to succeed in challenging situations. With 13,289 runs in Tests, 11,579 runs in ODIs, and 666 runs in T20Is combined Kallis sits sixth on the list of batsmen with the highest international runs.

7. Rahul Dravid | India | 24,208 runs

One of the greatest batsmen of Indian and world cricket history, Rahul Dravid comes at no 7 on this list. Known for his long innings and willpower to stay at the crease, Dravid scored a total of 24,208 runs in his career in 605 innings that he played. Dravid scored 146 half-centuries and 48 centuries across formats.

Dravid played a total of 17 years for India and scored 13,288 runs in Tests and 10,889 runs in ODIs and then played only one T20I game. He averages 45.41 and with the highest score of 270 across formats.

Also Read: The Most Memorable Test Centuries in Cricket History

8. Brian Lara | West Indies | 22,358 runs

The West Indies legend of the game, Brian Lara comes just after the Indian wall. The West Indian legend was known for his big daddy hundreds where he used to bat with flair and style. Lara scored a total of 22,358 runs with an average of 46.28 in 521 innings across formats.

He holds the highest individual run in Test cricket, he scores 400* runs in the red ball format of the game. Lara scores 11,953 runs in Tests and 10,405 runs in ODIs. With 111 half-centuries and 53 centuries to his name. He comes at no 8 on our list.

9. Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 21,032 runs

Sri Lanka's greatest batsman of last decade, Sanath Jayasuriya comes at ninth place on this list of most international runs in cricket history. Jayasuriya scored a total of 21,032 runs in his career in 651 innings in his international career which included 103 half-centuries and 42 centuries.

Jayasuriya has 6,973 runs in Tests and 14,723 runs in ODIs with the highest score of 340 in test. 

10. Shivnarine Chanderpaul | West Indies | 20,988 runs

Former West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul comes at the 10th spot in this list of most international runs in cricket history. Chanderpaul scored a total of 20,988 runs in just 553 innings. Also, he has 125 half-centuries and 41 tons to his name in international cricket. He scored with an average of 45.72 with the highest score of 203* across formats.

N.B: The stats are accurate as of 16/09/2024.

The cricketing world is buzzing with discussions surrounding the upcoming IND vs ENG series, and a voice has highlighted a significant void: the absence of Virat Kohli. England's Test captain, Ben Stokes, has openly expressed his belief that India will feel the lack of Kohli's renowned "fighting spirit" and other things on the field.

Stokes also revealed how he texted Kohli after his decision to retire and term it as a shame he won't be there to play in the field.

This statement from an opponent shows the immense impact Kohli has left and the challenge India faces in a crucial series without one of its finest test players.

Check the full story of Ben Stokes on Virat Kohli's absence in England series:

Ben Stokes on Virat Kohli's absence in England series

Ben Stokes has analysed how Virat Kohli's absence can affect India, 2 days prior the test series against England. When asked about what India will miss in Kohli after he decided to step down from tests, here's how the English skipper replied:

"I think what India will miss, will be his fighting spirit out in the game, his competitiveness, desire to win." He further goes on to add "It will be weird to not see number 18 at the back of any Indian shirt. I did text him saying it's going to be a shame not to play against him because I love playing against Virat."

Stokes also shared how he feels both Kohli and him have the same mindset when out in the field, and addressed the fact that he has done really well against England in his test career.

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Read Also: England vs India Test Series: Here is India's overall test record against England in England

India vs England squads for the upcoming test series

India: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana.

England: Ben Stokes (c), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes

Indian star opener Smriti Mandhana has regained the number one spot in the women's ICC ODI rankings for the first time since November 2019, according to the latest update released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday.

Also Read: ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 Full Schedule announced; India to face Pakistan on October 5

Mandhana surpassed Wolvaardt to claim top spot

The 28-year-old Mandhana has moved up one place to return to the top spot while South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt has slipped to joint second place with new England skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt after scoring 27 and 28 in the first two ODIs against the West Indies.

Mandhana now sits comfortably with 727 rating points after Wolvaardt held the top spot for over six months. The Indian star batsman has been in great form lately and scored the 11th century of her career, amassing 264 runs across five outings with a 52.80 averae and a strike rate of 90.41 during India's recent tri-series final against Sri Lanka and South Africa in Colombo.

Mandhana named ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year

The India vice-captain had a stellar run in ODIs in 2024, following which she was named as the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year, scoring more runs than she ever has before in a calendar year, racking up 747 runs in 13 innings. Mandhana is one of only four women to record at least 10 centuries, with her 4473 runs standing 10th on the all-time charts.

Mandhana’s rating points currently eight ahead of newly-appointed England skipper Natalie Sciver-Brunt at 719 points. Wolvaardt dropped to equal second alongside Sciver-Brunt, while fellow South African’s Tazmin Brits (up five spots to 27th) and Sune Luus (up seven places to 42nd) are among the big movers this week on the list for ODI batters.

Jemimah Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur, being the only other Indian batters in the top 30, placed at 15th and 16th, respectively.

Women's ICC ODI Rankings

In the history of Indian Test Cricket, reaching the 2000-run milestone has always been a matter of pride. While many have achieved this feat, only a few have done so with remarkable speed.

Currently, the record for the fastest Indians to score 2000 test runs is jointly held by Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid, both accomplishing it in 40 innings. However, a new name is on the verge of making history: Yashasvi Jaiswal, with 1798 runs from 36 innings, needs only 202 more runs.

If Jaiswal reaches this in 3 or fewer innings, potentially in the upcoming test series against England (starts on June 20, 2025), he will break the legendary record and reach on top!

Now, let's look at the elite list of players who previously set the standard by being the fastest Indians to reach 2000 test runs.

1. Rahul Dravid (40 innings)

Rahul Dravid, famously known as "The Wall" for his brilliant defensive technique and concentration in tests, reached 2000 test runs in just 40 innings. His ability to bat for longer periods and wearing down the opposition was a key aspect for India's Test success.

Read Also: Most successful Test captains from India

2. Virender Sehwag (40 innings)

Virender Sehwag, the aggressive opening batsman, matched Dravid's record by also reaching 2000 test runs in 40 innings. He was known for his fearless approach while batting at the top of the order.

He is also the only Indian to score 2 triple centuries in his test career.

3. Vijay Hazare (43 innings)

An icon of Indian cricket's early era, Vijay Hazare reached 2000 test runs in 43 innings. He was an incredible run-scorer in his time, known for his elegant batting and contributions.

His contributions mattered highly during a period when Indian cricket was finding its status on the international stage.

4. Gautam Gambhir (43 innings)

The bold left-handed opener, Gautam Gambhir, also reached 2000 test runs in 43 innings. He was a crucial part of India's top order in the late 2000s and early 2010s.

Gambhir was known for his mental toughness and ability to play long innings when required, with high determination and focus.

Read Also: India's 2011 World Cup winning squad: Where are they now?

5. Sunil Gavaskar (44 innings)

Sunil Gavaskar, one of the greatest opener in Tests cricket history, scored 2000 test runs in 44 innings. He was known for batting fearlessly and facing West Indian fast bowlers without modern protective gear.

Gavaskar was the first player to reach 10000-run mark in test cricket history, and also holds the 3rd place for most runs for India in tests.

The schedule of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 has been released. The Women's World Cup will begin on September 30 with hosts India playing their first match against Sri Lanka at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Also Read: BCCI announce Indian women's squad for ODI and T20I series against England

The eight-team tournament will be a round-robin format with the top four teams advancing to the semi-finals. The much-awaited final will be played on November 2. Australia will begin their campaign against New Zealand on October 1 at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore.

India vs Pakistan Match details

Due to tension between India and Pakistan, Pakistan will play all its matches in Colombo, Sri Lanka under the hybrid hosting model agreed upon by BCCI and PCB. In such a situation, the teams playing with Pakistan including India will go to Colombo, which is a neutral venue.

The most awaited match of the group stage between India and Pakistan will be played on 5th October in Colombo.

Women's Cricket World Cup 2025: Venues

• India : Bengaluru, Guwahati, Indore, Visakhapatnam 
• Sri Lanka : Colombo

The tournament will be held at five major venues in the two countries. Bengaluru and Colombo have been shortlisted as potential hosts for the final.

Women's Cricket World Cup 2025: Full Schedule

The International Cricket Council (ICC) conducts different cricket events and tournaments throughout the year. ICC tournaments are the biggest platforms in the game of cricket, where the top teams contest against each other for championship podiums.

Contributing to the team on a big stage like this will always be remembered for a long time. The ODI World Cup is conducted once every four years, whereas the Men's T20 World Cup is played every two years. The ICC Champions Trophy is where only the top 8 teams compete in each finals tournament.

Last but not least, the World Test Championship is played over two years. This article thoroughly talks about the men's cricketing teams that have won ICC trophies at some point in time. Let's take a look at the teams with the most ICC Trophies.

Read Also: Rohit Sharma in ICC knockout games

Australia | 10

Australia's sheer dominance over other cricketing teams is nothing new. For decades, Australia has been executing out-of-ordinary performances and winning trophies for the country. Out of all the cricketing countries, Australia has the most ICC trophies.

Till now the Aussies won 10 ICC trophies. Australia is the only team to win 6 ICC World Cups. The most successful team in the Cricket World Cup clinched the trophy in 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015, and 2023. Interestingly Australia made a record of being the only team to win the trophy in all the countries that hosted the World Cup.

Australia won the ICC Champions Trophy twice in 2006 and 2009 against West Indies and New Zealand respectively. Lastly, Australia lifted their first-ever ICC T20 World Cup trophy after defeating New Zealand in the 2021 T20 World Cup. They claimed the ICC World Test Championship after defeating India at the Oval by a huge margin of 209 runs.

Read also: Top 8 Wicket-takers of T20 World Cup 2021

India | 7

India sits in the second position on this prestigious list of most ICC Trophies by any team. India won their first-ever ICC World Cup in 1983 under the captaincy of Kapil Dev. Later again 28 years, the men in blue won the World Cup for the second time under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni in 2011.

The Indian men's cricket team also reached the semifinals four times in 1987, 1996, 2015, and 2019. Meantime, they lost in two finals in 2003 and 2023.

The men in blue won the Champions Trophy thrice. First, in 2002, both the finalists India and Sri Lanka were declared the co-champions of the 2002 Champions Trophy. In the 2013 edition, India defeated England by 5 runs and won the Champions Trophy for the second time in Birmingham. Their latest triumph came via Champions Trophy 2025, as they defeated New Zealand by four wickets in Dubai in the final.

Lastly, India won the inaugural edition of the ICC T20 World Cup in 2007 after defeating Pakistan in Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, India defeated  South Africa by 7 runs to lift the trophy for the second time.

Read also: India's performance in every ICC tournament

West Indies | 5

Read also: T20 World Cup 2021: Man of the Series, highest wicket-taker, and highest run-getter

Next on this list is West Indies with a total of 5 ICC trophies. The first-ever ICC World Cup final was won by West Indies in 1975. West Indies once again continued their reign in the next edition of the World Cup as well, in 1979. The Caribbean team also won the Champions Trophy in 2004. Lastly, West Indies became the winner of the ICC T20 World Cup twice; once against Sri Lanka in 2012 and the other time against England in 2016.

England | 3

Till 2010, the England team has not had any ICC Tournament. But, it was in 2010, when they won their first ICC T20 World Cup against arch-rival Australia. Craig Kieswetter guided them home in the final for their first-ever ICC Trophy. Post that, they have been a phenomenal white-ball team and won two ICC World Cups since then.

In 2019, they won their first ICC Men's ODI World Cup as Ben Stokes made all the difference in the final against England in a match where boundary count helped England to win the World Cup.

England's latest ICC Trophy triumph came under Jos Buttler as they became the first-ever team in Cricket history to hold the ODI and T20 World Cup at the same time. Jos Buttler and company won the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 as Sam Curran won the player of the tournament after taking 13 wickets with the ball. Curran also was the player of the match in the final as well.

Pakistan | 3

Pakistan sits in the fourth position on the list of most ICC Trophy wins by any team with 3 ICC trophies. The first-ever ICC trophy won by Pakistan was during the 1992 cricket World Cup. Pakistan defeated England in the final and won by 22 runs.

The next ICC trophy won by Pakistan was in the 2009 T20 World Cup where they beat Sri Lanka in the final and won the title by 8 wickets. The most recent and last ICC win of Pakistan is the 2017 Champions Trophy where they defeated India by 180 runs.

Read also: "No one is more disappointed than me": Hasan Ali after T20 World Cup 2021 exit

Sri Lanka | 3

Read also: ICC Hall of fame: Shaun Pollock, Mahela Jayawardene and Janette Britti get inducted

With 3 ICC trophies, Sri Lanka sits in 5th position on this list. Sri Lanka won their first-ever ICC World Cup in 1996 where they played against Australia in the final hosted in Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. They went ahead to win their next ICC trophy in the 2002 Champions Trophy. The winner of the tournament is actually both India and Sri Lanka as both the finalist teams were declared as co-champions.

The last time Sri Lanka won an ICC Trophy was when they defeated India in the 2014 T20 World Cup hosted in Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Dhaka.

New Zealand | 2

The New Zealand cricket team has won a total of 2 ICC trophies since they started competing in tournaments conducted by ICC. The Kiwis won their first-ever ICC Trophy in the 2000 Champions Trophy. Nairobi hosted the final of New Zealand vs India where New Zealand won the match by 4 wickets.

The next ICC Trophy won by the Kiwis was the ICC World Test Championship. Once again, New Zealand played against India in the final of an ICC event and clinched the trophy in the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship final.

Read also: Winners list of last 10 ICC Tournaments

South Africa | 2

South Africa have broken the jinx and finally won an ICC trophy after 27 years, only their second ICC title after beating Australia by five wickets at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground to become World Test champions. Chasing 282 runs to win, Aiden Markram registered his eighth Test century and played one of the most important knocks of his career with 136 runs to guide the Proteas to a historic win.

Meanwhile, in the 1998 ICC Champions Trophy hosted in Bangladesh, South Africa beat West Indies in the final to win their first ICC title. Jacques Kallis was exceptional and contributed the most to the team reaching and winning the final and was awarded the player of the tournament. He hit a century and picked up a five-wicket haul as well.

Note: The stats include shared trophies. The article was first written by Shreya Ghosh and then got edited by Abishek Goswami.