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Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara are some of the great bowlers who have played for Sri Lanka. Scoring runs against bowlers of such quality is a great feat. In this article, we will take a look at the players with the most runs against Sri Lanka in ODIs.
Most runs against Sri Lanka in ODIs
| Player | Span | Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s |
| Sachin Tendulkar (India) | 1990-2012 | 84 | 3113 | 138 | 43.84 | 87.54 | 8 | 17 |
| Virat Kohli (India) | 2008-2023 | 53 | 2594 | 166* | 63.26 | 93.91 | 10 | 12 |
| MS Dhoni (India) | 2005-2019 | 67 | 2383 | 183* | 64.40 | 90.09 | 2 | 19 |
| Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan) | 1992-2006 | 63 | 2265 | 118* | 44.41 | 78.02 | 4 | 15 |
| Saeed Anwar (Pakistan) | 1989-2002 | 52 | 2198 | 126 | 44.85 | 82.19 | 7 | 13 |
| Rohit Sharma (India) | 2008-2023 | 52 | 1864 | 264 | 45.46 | 94.47 | 6 | 7 |
| Mohammad Azharuddin (India) | 1985-2000 | 53 | 1834 | 111* | 50.94 | 79.77 | 3 | 15 |
| Virender Sehwag (India) | 2001-2012 | 55 | 1699 | 146 | 34.67 | 110.18 | 2 | 5 |
| Gautam Gambhir (India) | 2005-2012 | 37 | 1668 | 150* | 50.54 | 88.62 | 6 | 9 |
| Rahul Dravid (India) | 1996-2009 | 46 | 1662 | 145 | 48.88 | 75.20 | 3 | 11 |
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Sachin Tendulkar
There are seldom any lists that do not feature Sachin Tendulkar such is the stature of the ‘God of Cricket’. Tendulkar scored 3,113 runs against the Lankans. His career span of 24 years definitely helps him in ranking at the top of this list. In the 84 matches, he played against the island nation, he scored eight centuries and 17 half-centuries.
His best score against the nation came in the final of the Compaq Cup in 2009. Tendulkar scored 138 runs in 133 balls hitting 10 fours and one six before being dismissed by Ajantha Mendis. India scored 319 runs in the match and registered a 46-run victory.
Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has scored 2,594 runs against Sri Lanka and still has an opportunity to score a few more. His 10 centuries against Sri Lanka is the record for the most ODI centuries against a single team. Kohli’s 2,594 runs have come at an average of 63.26 at a healthy strike rate of 93.91.
The ‘run-machine’ recently recorded his highest score against Sri Lanka last year. During an ODI in Thiruvananthapuram on the 15th of January, 2023, Kohli scored 166 runs in just 110 balls helping India register a victory by the highest margin of runs in ODI history.
MS Dhoni
The former Indian skipper, MS Dhoni scored 2,383 runs against Sri Lanka. In the 67 matches he has played against Sri Lanka, Dhoni has batted 53 times while remaining not out 16 times which boosted his average to 64.40 at a strike rate of 90.91.
‘Captain Cool’ recorded his highest score of 183* in 2005 at Jaipur. India was chasing a score of 299 when Dhoni’s knock at number three meant that the hosts won the match by six wickets with 23 balls remaining. The most significant knock in Dhoni’s career came against Sri Lanka in the 2011 World Cup final where he scored 91* and won the match and the coveted trophy by finishing the match with a six.
Inzamam-ul-Haq
Pakistani great, Inzamam-ul-Haq ranks fourth on this list and first from Pakistan. The right-handed batter enjoyed massive success over his 16-year-long career, especially against Sri Lanka against whom he scored 2,265 runs. His runs came at a steady average of 44.41 and at a strike rate of 78.02.
Inzamam-ul-Haq’s highest score of 118* against Sri Lanka came in 2001 in a tricky chase of 273. After losing two early wickets for just 41 runs, Naved Latif and Inzamam shared a 219-run stand for the third wicket which ensured that Pakistan won the match by seven wickets in the final over of the chase.
Saeed Anwar
Inzamam is followed by fellow compatriot, Saeed Anwar on the list. The left-handed opener played for Pakistan for 14 years and during his career, Anwar scored 2,198 runs against Sri Lanka. His runs came at a slightly better average (44.85) and strike rate (82.19) than Inzamam.
Anwar’s highest score of 126 against Sri Lanka came in the Benson and Hedges World Series in 1990 in Adelaide. His high-striking knock of 126 runs in just 99 balls allowed Pakistan to score 315 runs in the first innings and eventually win the match by 27 runs.
Rohit Sharma
Despite Virat Kohli’s 10 centuries against them, Rohit Sharma might just be the most feared batter for Sri Lankans in recent times. The only man to score three ODI double-centuries, Sharma’s two double-centuries came against Sri Lanka which also includes his highest ODI score. Sharma has scored 1,864 runs at an average of 45.46 at a strike rate of 94.47.
Sharma’s highest ODI score which is also the highest for any batter in the world came against Sri Lanka in 2014 in Eden Gardens. Rohit scored 264 runs off just 173 balls, an innings which included 33 fours and nine sixes. He was dismissed on the final ball of the first innings as India scored 404 runs and won the match by 153 runs.
Mohammad Azharuddin
One of the most stylish batters of his time, Mohammad Azharuddin ranks seventh on this list. In his 16-year-long career, the former Indian skipper scored 1,834 runs in 53 matches against Sri Lanka. He scored at an average of 50.94 at a strike rate of 79.77.
His highest score of 111* against Sri Lanka in a losing cause in 1997. Chasing 303, Azharuddin scored 111* along with a century from Ajay Jadeja and lost the match by a close margin of two runs.
Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag scored 1,699 runs against Sri Lanka in his career. Sehwag smashed two centuries against the nation but it was his signature high-striking game that caught the attention of everyone. His average against Sri Lanka was just 34.67 at a strike rate of 110.18.
His highest score of 146 against Sri Lanka came in 2009 at Rajkot. Sehwag’s 146 runs came in just 102 balls hitting 17 fours and six sixes at a strike rate of 143.13.
Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir is just 31 runs behind his Delhi teammate. Gambhir scored 1,668 runs in 37 matches at an average of 50.54 at a strike rate of 88.62.
His highest score of 150* against Sri Lanka came in 2009 at Eden Gardens. Chasing 316, Gambhir and Virat Kohli scored centuries and shared a 224-run stand for the third wicket ensuring that the hosts won the match by 7 wickets. The match is famously remembered for the heart-touching gesture from Gambhir who gave away his Man of the Match award to Kohli, who had hit his first century. Just like Dhoni, Gambhir’s most influential knock of his career came against Sri Lanka in the 2011 World Cup final where he hit 97 runs after losing two early wickets of Indian openers, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar.
Rahul Dravid
As has been the case with the list so far it is another Indian to finish off the top 10. The present coach of the Indian Men’s Team, Rahul Dravid scored 1,662 runs against Sri Lanka. In 46 matches, Dravid scored 1,662 runs at an average of 48.88 at a strike rate of 75.20.
His highest score of 145 against Sri Lanka came in the 1999 World Cup. Dravid scored 145 runs in the innings but it was Sourav Ganguly who stole the show as the left-handed opener scored 183 runs in 158 balls. India scored 373 runs in the first innings and won the match by 157 runs.
