Most Runs in ODI World Cup: Top Run Scorers, Records and Stats

IND V AFG: In fact, the highest number of runs in an ODI World Cup is held by the Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 2,278 runs from 45 World Cup Matches (1992-2011). He still holds the record as the all-time leading run-scorer in ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup history, netting a total career average of 56.95 with six centuries.

Some of the best-ever innings in ODI history have come during the World Cup events. You are talking about Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting to Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Kumar Sangakkara a list of greats whose legacy has been built upon some truly palatial records on the largest platform.

Virat Kohli also went past Sachin Tendulkar in the race for most runs scored in World Cup history after 2023. Kohli ended the tournament with 765 runs and his career World Cup total has now reached 1795 – moving him past Australia’s Ricky Ponting.

Most Runs in ODI World Cup History

Top run-scorers in men’s ODI World Cup (As of the end of 2023)

Rank	Player	Team	Matches	Innings	Runs	Average	100s	50s
1	Sachin Tendulkar	India	45	44	2,278	56.95	6	15
2	Virat Kohli	India	37	37	1,795	59.83	5	12
3	Ricky Ponting	Australia	46	42	1,743	45.86	5	6
4	Rohit Sharma	India	28	28	1,575	60.57	7	6
5	Kumar Sangakkara	Sri Lanka	37	35	1,532	56.74	5	7
6	David Warner	Australia	29	29	1,527	56.55	6	5
7	Shakib Al Hasan	Bangladesh	36	36	1,332	41.62	2	11
8	Brian Lara	West Indies	34	33	1,225	42.24	2	7
9	AB de Villiers	South Africa	23	22	1,207	63.52	4	6
10	Chris Gayle	West Indies	35	34	1,186	35.93	2	6

These statistics are correct as of the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, the latest finished men’s ODI World Cup.

1. Sachin Tendulkar – 2,278 Runs

Sachin Tendulkar is the highest scorer in ODI World Cup history. From six World Cups, from 1992 to 2011, he had scored 2,278 runs in 45 matches and 44 innings.

In World Cup games, he averaged 56.95, and his highest score was 152. That’s well highlighted by Tendulkar’s six hundreds and 15 half-centuries.

His greatest World Cup performance arrived in 2003, where he scored a record 673 runs in 11 matches. Until 2023, when Virat Kohli eclipsed that record in the same edition of the World Cup.

In 2011, India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in the final held in Mumbai and finally Tendulkar lifted the World Cup trophy.

2. Virat Kohli – 1,795 Runs

Virat Kohli is in 2nd place among most runs scored in the history of ODI World Cup. His performance record at the conclusion of the 2023 tournament stood at 1,795 runs from 37 matches at an average just shy of our target: ~59.83

Kohli has always loved World Cups, and the 2023 one in particular was a huge deal for Kohli. In 11 innings, he amassed 765 runs — most by a batter in an edition of men’s Cricket World Cup. He broke Tendulkar’s record of 673 runs set in 2003.

Four of the centuries and six of the half-centuries were scored during Kohli’s 2023 campaign. He additionally hit a match-winning 117 towards New Zealand within the semi-final and, through the course of the match, made himself the primary batter to attain 50 ODI centuries.

Indeed, his consistency makes him one of the biggest contenders to usurp Tendulkar’s overall World Cup record – but he remains a long way off yet.

3. Ricky Ponting – 1,743 Runs

Ricky Ponting is in third place with 1,743 runs from 46 World Cup games for Australia.

A key figure in Australia’s onslaught World Cup era, Ponting. He played in Australian would-be sides and captained the team to World Cup wins.

Having scored 140 not out as his highest World Cup score, he averaged 45.86 in the tournament. He scored five hundreds and six fifties.

Ponting was second on the all-time list for years until Kohli eclipsed him at the 2023 World Cup, during which he surpassed Pontings’ totals as well.

4. Rohit Sharma – 1,575 Runs

Rohit Sharma 4th in the list of most runs scored by a players in ODI World Cup with 1,575 runs from 28 matches.

Among all players who have scored more than 1,000 runs at the World Cup, he has one of the highest batting averages with a figure of 60.57. As an aggressive cricketer himself opening the batting, his more than 100 strike rate is also indicative of the world-class efforts he made while at the crease.

Rohit has the most centuries (7) scored by a batter at World Cups. During the 2023 World Cup, he went past the previous record of six centuries set by Tendulkar.

He had a particularly good 2019 World Cup. In nine innings, he made 648 runs with the help of five hundreds. His five centuries were the highest number of a batter scored in any World Cup at that point, according to ICC records.

5. Kumar Sangakkara – 1,532 Runs

Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara scored 1,532 in 37 World Cup matches and 35 innings.

He scored five hundreds and seven fifties, with an average of 56.74 in it. He had the best score of 124 in the World Cup.

At the 2015 World Cup, Sangakkara had one of the best individual runs of form in history. He also became the first player to score four consecutive World Cup hundreds.

His class and consistency with the bat guided Sri Lanka to the knock-out rounds in several events.

6. David Warner – 1,527 Runs

Australian opener David Warner is just behind Sangakkara in the overall list with 1,527 World Cup runs.

Warner’s runs came from 29 innings but his tournament average in complete was best amongst the top run scorers with 56.55. His highest score in a World Cup was 178, and he accumulated six centuries.

It fared best in the 2015, 2019 and 2023 editions. He would serve itself as arguably the most dangerous opening batsman World Cup cricket had witnessed in Australia.

7. Shakib Al Hasan – 1,332 Runs

At the seventh place in all -time list, Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan amassed 1,332 runs.

Shakib has been a mainstay for Bangladesh in their World Cup teams over the years. He scored 2 hundreds and 11 half-centuries in the tournament.

His left-arm spin has long been an alternative to his batting, making him one of the most effective World Cup all-rounders.

8. Brian Lara – 1,225 Runs

In 34 World Cup matches, West Indies legend Brian Lara scored 1,225 runs.

He averaged 42.24 at the World Cup and scored two centuries and seven fifties. He is a 116 World Cup high scorer.

Easily recognised as someone who could build massive innings, Lara looms large as one of the most intimidating batters of his time.

9. AB de Villiers – 1,207 Runs

AB de Villiers (South Africa)- 1207 runs in 23 matches

He played much fewer matches than most of the players ahead of him, so his numbers are especially astonishing. His average 63.52 is better than all but six of the leading run-scorers in World Cup history.

He had a highest World Cup score of 162 not out, which included four centuries and six half-centuries.

Besides the ability, de Villiers also possessed the exceptional strike rate and innovative stroke play.

10. Chris Gayle – 1,186 Runs

Rounding off the Top 10 is West Indies power hitter Chris Gayle with 1,186 runs from 35 games.

Centuries: 2, Half centuries: 6 : Gayle His most infamous World Cup innings was 215 against Zimbabwe in 2015, becoming ODI cricket’s first West Indian to compile a double hundred.

A fiery blend of power, six-hitting and experience coupled his appearance at the World Cup to one of fantasy’s most familiar faces.

Most Runs in a Single ODI World Cup

Virat Kohli Most Runs In A Single ODI World Cup

Rank	Player	Team	Year	Runs
1	Virat Kohli	India	2023	765
2	Sachin Tendulkar	India	2003	673
3	Matthew Hayden	Australia	2007	659
4	Rohit Sharma	India	2019	648
5	David Warner	Australia	2019	647

Tendulkar’s record of 673 runs from the 2003 World Cup was held for 20 years before Kohli surpassed it with his 765 runs in 2023.

It was almost a statistical hallmark of the 2023 tournament. Kohli had a fine run in earlier round of the competition as throughout 11 innings, he scored at an average of 96.62 to guide India to the final stage.

Also Read: Godfather of Cricket | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | Shubman Gill IPL 2026 Price

Most World Cup Centuries

Another important marker of batting consistency at the ODI World Cup is centuries.

Rohit Sharma has scored the most centuries 7 hundred in the World Cup. A century during the 2023 tournament also saw him go beyond Sachin Tendulkar’s previous record of six centuries in World Cups.

The leading century-makers include:

Player	World Cup Centuries
Rohit Sharma	7
Sachin Tendulkar	6
Virat Kohli	5
Ricky Ponting	5
Kumar Sangakkara	5
David Warner	6

These seven hundreds from Rohit are especially significant as he has achieved this in just three editions of the World Cup.

Why Sachin Tendulkar’s Record Is Special

Tendulkar’s 2,278 runs that’s not just about playing more tournaments. What makes the record particularly important is the reliability he has shown in three different generations.

From the 1992 World Cup to 2011, he featured in four World Cups in total giving him nearly two decades of experience at the sport’s biggest festival. In this period, he encountered varied bowling attacks, playing conditions and tournament formats.

According to ICC records, Tendulkar notched 2,278 runs at an average of 56.95 with six centuries and another 15 fifties.

And before Kohli’s 2023 effort, he had the record for the most runs in a single World Cup edition (2003 – 673).

India Dominates the List of Top World Cup Run Scorers

Another interesting aspect of the all-time rankings is how well India is represented.

Among the top five, three are Indian run-scorers:

• Sachin Tendulkar – 2,278 runs
• Virat Kohli – 1,795 runs
• Rohit Sharma – 1,575 runs

The duo have compiled over 5,600 World Cup runs between them.

The statistics shows that Indian cricket has produced many elite ODI batters in its long history. Tendulkar set the standard, and Kohli and Rohit have continued that tradition in this era.

Conclusion

Sachin Tendulkar is the highest run-scorer in ODI World Cups with 2,278 runs from six editions. Then comes Virat Kohli (1795) at number 3, and holds the record for most runs in a single World Cup 765 in 2023 The top five highest individual run-scorers also include Rohit Sharma, Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara and David Warner. Those records stress the high degree of cumulativeness, longevity and tightrope-walking required to be World-Cup worthy.

FAQs