Top 5 Indian Batsmen with the Most ODI Runs in History
India’s cricket history shines with legendary batters. They have excelled in the One Day International (ODI) format. India has six players in the global list of 15 cricketers who have scored over 10,000 ODI runs. This shows India’s unmatched strength in the format.
Here’s a look at the top five highest run-scorers for India in ODI cricket.
1. Sachin Tendulkar – 18,426 Runs
Sachin Tendulkar, the top run-scorer in ODIs, set a record with 18,426 runs. His record is nearly 4,000 runs ahead of second-placed Kumar Sangakkara.
In his 24-year career, Tendulkar changed cricket forever. He scored an incredible 49 ODI centuries. His skill, reliability, and long career make him India’s best ODI batter ever.
2. Virat Kohli – 13,906* Runs
A modern-day legend, Virat Kohli has redefined ODI batting. With 13,906 runs, he is India’s second-highest ODI run-scorer and third overall in world cricket.
Kohli holds the highest average (58.18) among players with 10,000+ runs. In the 2023 Cricket World Cup, he became the first batter to hit 50 ODI centuries. This achievement cemented his place as one of the greatest players ever.
3. Sourav Ganguly – 11,221 Runs
One of India’s finest left-handed batters, Sourav Ganguly scored 11,363 runs in 300 ODI innings from 1992 to 2007. He hit 22 centuries and 72 half-centuries, averaging 41.02.
As India’s captain, Ganguly amassed 5,104 runs, leading the team through a transformative era. Under Rahul Dravid’s captaincy, he excelled. He scored 983 runs, averaging almost 50 in his last years.
4. Rohit Sharma – 10,941* Runs
Rohit Sharma, the current Indian captain, recently passed Dravid’s record. He did this with a key performance against England, just before the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. With 31 centuries, he is the second-highest century-maker in ODI history.
Sharma has a strike rate of 92.50. He has done well in Australia, averaging 53.12, and in England, with an average of 64.90. He has scored over 1,000 runs in both countries. His ODI tally is nearing 11,000 runs, making him one of India’s all-time greats.
5. Rahul Dravid – 10,889 Runs
Former captain Rahul Dravid accumulated 10,889 runs in 344 ODIs between 1996 and 2011. Averaging 39.16, he recorded 95 scores of 50+, including 12 centuries.
Dravid led the 1999 Cricket World Cup in runs, scoring 461 in eight innings. His overseas record was exceptional, averaging 45.85 in England, 44.28 in South Africa, and 50.30 in Pakistan.
India’s strength in ODI cricket lasts through the years. Kohli and Sharma carry on the legacy of Tendulkar, Ganguly, and Dravid.
