The history of International cricket goes as far as 1844 when Canada played their north American neighbours, USA. Even though cricket went out of the mainstream in these nations, some other countries picked the game due to many reasons and went on to become one of the powerhouses of the game. So far, there are 12 Test nations where most of the ICC Members play T20Is or ODIs. In this listicle, we will discuss the top 10 most runs in international cricket combining all formats.
Most Runs In International All Formats
| Player | Mat | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 100 | 50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | 664 | 34,357 | 248* | 48.52 | 67.58 | 100 | 164 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | 594 | 28,016 | 319 | 46.77 | 66.56 | 63 | 153 |
| Virat Kohli | 550 | 27,599 | 254* | 52.27 | 79.18 | 82 | 143 |
| Ricky Ponting | 560 | 27,483 | 257 | 45.95 | 68.48 | 71 | 146 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 652 | 25,957 | 374 | 39.15 | 64.73 | 54 | 136 |
| Jacques Kallis | 519 | 25,534 | 224 | 49.10 | 56.30 | 62 | 149 |
| Rahul Dravid | 509 | 24,208 | 270 | 45.41 | 51.98 | 48 | 146 |
| Brian Lara | 430 | 22,358 | 400* | 46.28 | 68.08 | 53 | 111 |
| Joe Root | 370 | 21,562 | 262 | 49.68 | 66.55 | 57 | 113 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | 586 | 21,032 | 340 | 34.14 | 81.17 | 42 | 103 |
Most Runs Across Formats
1. Sachin Tendulkar (34357 runs)
The 2011 World Cup winner has played most international matches for India despite playing only one T20I, which was also India’s maiden T20I, i.e. in 2006 against South Africa. After playing 664 games across ODIs and Tests, Sachin Tendulkar has scored 34357 runs with 100 centuries and 164 fifties. His international career spans from 1989 to 2013.
2. Kumar Sangakkara (28016 runs)
The former Sri Lanka skipper played four ODI World Cups, five T20 World Cups and a massive number of Tests. After playing 594 matches across formats, the T20 World Cup 2014 winner amassed 28016 runs across formats. Having made his international debut in 2000, the left-hander retired in 2015 having represented Asia and ICC alongside his national side. Sangakkara hit 63 hundreds and 153 fifties.
3. Virat Kohli (27599 runs)
The former India captain is only one of the few active players who are part of this list. So far, he has played 550 matches across formats. After winning the T20 World Cup last year, Virat Kohli retired from the shortest format, followed by his Test retirement a few months back. The 2011 World Cup winner will represent India in ODIs for the foreseeable future. Kohli has hit 82 hundreds and 143 fifties so far.
4. Ricky Ponting (27483 runs)
The three-time ODI World Cup winner for Australia played 560 games across formats. He dominated Tests and ODIs and was decent in T20Is. Meanwhile, the right-hander amassed 27483 runs across formats having made his debut in 1995 and played his last in 2012. After retirement, Ponting has taken up coaching assignments with various franchises. Ponting hit 71 hundred and 146 fifties.
5. Mahela Jayawardene (25957 runs)
The former Sri Lanka captain is one of the biggest names in Sri Lankan cricket. Meanwhile, having played 652 matches across all formats (only 12 behind Sachin), the T20 WC 2014 winner amassed 25957 runs across formats. Having made his debut in 1997, his last game was the 2015 World Cup quarter final against South Africa. Jayawardene finished with 54 hundreds and 136 fifties.
6. Jacques Kallis (25534 runs)
One of the greatest all-rounders of the game who never won a World Cup, the South African has played 519 matches across all formats, Kallis amassed 25534 runs with 62 hundreds and 149 fifties. The knockout Trophy 1998 winner also has more than 500 wickets to his name, the most among all the names in this list.
7. Rahul Dravid (24208 runs)
The former India captain, like his colleague, Tendulkar, has played only one T20I. Having made his T20I debut in 2011, he retired right after that game. Meanwhile, having made his debut in 1996, Dravid played 509 matches across formats and amassed 24208 runs with 48 hundreds and 146 fifties and played his last game in 2012.
8. Brian Lara (22358 runs)
The Champions Trophy 2004 winner is one of the last superstars of West Indies. He made his debut in 1990 when the Caribbeans were on top in the game. However, towards the end of his career, the left-hander saw the downfall of his team. Meanwhile, Lara played 430 matches combining Tests and ODIs as he never played a T20I. The left-hander amassed 22358 runs with 53 hundreds and 111 fifties.
9. Joe Root (21562 runs)
The former England Test captain is only the second and last name in this list to still be active at the highest level. He played his last T20I during the T20 World Cup 2016 final but still has ambitions for the 2026 event. Meanwhile, after playing 370 games, the 2019 World Cup winner has amassed 21562 runs and counting. Joe Root is expected to break Tendulkar’s record of most runs in Tests. The former has 57 hundreds and 113 fifties to his name.
10. Sanath Jayasuriya (21032 runs)
The 1996 World Cup winner made his international debut pretty much the same time as Tendulkar. Meanwhile, after playing 586 games between 1989 and 2011, the left-hander amassed 21032 runs with 42 hundreds and 103 runs.
The list of all-time most run getters across formats is long which is why every player can’t be included in this list.
