Image Credit: twitter.com/@ICC
Each player at bat does everything he can to help his team win by scoring runs. The batsman scores a century or plays a vital inning that ultimately decides the game, as an example—everyone up to bat hopes to be the hero whose game-winning home run propels his side to victory. Making a century on the international stage is a milestone in any cricket batter’s career.
Many players have accomplished this feat, some at a young age and others later in their careers. These legends were prepared mentally and tactically for success in any game format, from the standard five-day Test match to the shorter One-Day International and the more modern Twenty-20 format. This piece ranks the top international batsmen based on their total number of runs scored.
| Rank | Runs | Inn. | Player | Team | Time- Period |
| 1 | 18,426 | 452 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 1989–2012 |
| 2 | 14,234 | 404 | Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 2000–2015 |
| 3 | 13,704 | 365 | Ricky Ponting | Australia | 1995–2012 |
| 4 | 13,430 | 433 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 1989–2011 |
| 5 | 12,650 | 418 | Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 1998–2015 |
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Batting Average: 48.29
Highest Score: 200*
Well-known Sachin Tendulkar tops the list with almost 18,426 runs scored in the starting positions across all ODI formats. He has smashed almost every batting record in ODI cricket, including the first-ever double-century in 2010, which he struck against South Africa. Tendulkar was a complete batsman who could both protect and attack well, and he did a great job of dealing with the strain of the Indian public’s high expectations.
Batting Average:41.98
Highest Score: 169
Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka was a sight to see when he was at the top of his game. He batted with his left hand. He did everything, from a beautiful cover drive against the pacer to a brave attack on the spinners. After 15 years of playing cricket, Sangakkara gave fans worldwide and his home country of Sri Lanka a lot to cheer about. Between the years 2000 and 2015, Sangakkara played in a total of 594 international games, including 404 one-day internationals. Sangakkara scored 14,234 runs in his career, putting him in second place among international batsmen. Even more impressive, Sangakkara scored 153 half-centuries and 63 hundred during this time, making it the peak of his international career. Sangakkara is next to a sporting great.
Ricky Ponting
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Batting Average:42.03
Highest Score: 164
The former captain of Australia, Ricky Ponting, was a great example of a strong and effective leader. Also, he has more runs than anyone else in Australian cricket history. Ponting’s 17 years as a player and captain in Australian cricket were filled with success that had never been seen before. Ponting played for Australia 560 times in international games (365 innings). In all formats, he scored 13,704 runs, averaging 45.95 runs per game. With 71 tons, Ponting is second only to the god of cricket. Ponting has also been a big part of the Australian cricket team’s success, leading to two ICC World Cup titles.
Sanath Jayasuriya
Batting Average:32.36
Highest Score: 189
Number four on this list is Sanath Jayasuriya. He was a pinch hitter for Sri Lanka when they won the Cricket World Cup in 1996, and he became one of the best openers in the history of one-day international cricket. His excellent hand-eye coordination made it possible for him to attack bowlers in a way that made him famous. He hit a tornado of strokes around the wicket, which were legendary. He ended his career with more than 13,430 runs scored in ODIs while batting first. That’s not bad for a guy who started as a lower-order batsman who bowled left-arm spin and moved up the ranks.
Mahela Jayawardene
Batting Average:33.37
Highest Score: 144
Mahela Jayawardene ended his career after Sri Lanka lost to South Africa in the quarterfinals of the 2015 World Cup. He had 12,650 runs in 418 games, including 19 centuries. Jayawardene led Sri Lanka to victory in the 2007 World Cup finals and had one of the best innings in the 2011 World Cup final. He scored 12650 runs in 418 games, including 19 centuries. Jayawardene led Sri Lanka to win the World Cup finals in 2007 and had one of the best innings in the World Cup finals in 2011. Many people thought Jayawardene, and Kumar Sangakkara were two of the best batsmen Sri Lanka has ever had. After Sri Lanka lost in the quarterfinals of the 2015 World Cup, he said he was done playing.
Liked to read about statistics and player performances? Read more about the Most Consecutive Wins in ODI Cricket: Records and Statistics and upgrade your knowledge.
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