The first ever international cricket match happened in 1844 between United States of America versus the British Empire’s Canadian Province. But this wasn’t the official format of cricket. As we know cricket started with Test as the first international format. The first ever test match happened in March 1877 between England and Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground. We are, now, more than 14 decades from then and the official international formats are three viz. Test Cricket, ODI Cricket and T20 International. Today, we’ll read about Cricketers with most international runs.
10. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (West Indies)
Former West Indies Cricketer Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been the second most run getter for West Indies. Chanderpaul started his international career in 1994. He hung his boots in 2015 after 21 year of service to the sport.
During his international career of over two decades, Chanderpaul scored 20988 runs from 553 innings of 454 matches. This included 11867 runs from 280 innings of 164 test matches with an average of 51.37. He also scored 8778 runs from 251 innings of 280 ODI matches with an average of 41.6 and strike rate of just over 70. He played a few T20I matches as well and scored 343 runs from 22 innings of 22 matches with an average of 20 and strike rate of 99.
His highest individual score was 203 not out which he scored against South Africa at Bourda, Georgetown, Guyana in 2005. He scored 41 centuries and 125 half centuries in his career. Chanderpaul is 10th on the list of Cricketers with most international runs.
9. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)
Former Sri Lanka Cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya is third most run getter for the Island Nation. Sanath started his international career in 1989. He hung his boots in 2011 after 22 year of service to the sport.
During his international stint, Jayasuriya scored 21032 runs from 651 innings of 586 matches. He has 6973 runs from 188 innings of 110 test matches with an average of 40.07. Jayasuriya also scored 13430 runs from 433 innings of 445 ODI matches with an average of 32.36 and strike rate of 91.2. He played a few T20I matches as well and scored 629 runs from 30 innings of 31 matches with an average of 32.36 and strike rate of 129.15.
His highest individual score was 340 which he scored against India at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo in 1997. He scored 42 centuries and 103 half centuries in his career. Jayasuriya is 9th on the list of Cricketers with most international runs.
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8. Virat Kohli (India)
Indian Cricketer Virat Kohli is the third most run getter for India already. Kohli started his international career in 2008. He’s the only active cricketer in top 10 of this list.
During his international stint so far, Kohli has scored 21500 runs from 446 innings of 404 matches. He has 7202 runs from 141 innings of 84 test matches with an average of 54.97. Virat has also scored 11609 runs from 233 innings of 242 ODI matches with an average of 59.84 and strike rate of 93.28. He has scored 2689 runs from 72 innings of 78 T20I matches with an average of 52.72 and strike rate of 138.53.
His highest individual score is 254 not out which he scored against South Africa at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune in 2019. He scored 70 centuries and 101 half centuries in his career. Virat Kohli is 8th on the list of Cricketers with most international runs.
7. Brian Lara (West Indies)
Legendary West Indies Cricketer Brian Lara is the most run getter for India already. Lara started his international career in 1990. He hung his boots in 2007 after 17 year of service to the sport.
During his international stint, Brian scored 22358 runs from 521 innings of 430 matches. He scored 11953 runs from 232 innings of 131 test matches with an average of 52.88. Lara also scored 10405 runs from 289 innings of 299 ODI matches with an average of 40.48 and strike rate of 79.51. He didn’t play T20 internationals.
His highest individual score was 400 not out which he scored against England at Antigua Recreation Ground, St John’s, Antigua in 2004. He scored 53 centuries and 111 half centuries in his career. Brian Lara is 7th on the list of Cricketers with most international runs.
6. Rahul Dravid (India)
Former India Cricketer Rahul Dravid is second most run getter for India. Rahul started his international career in 1996. He hung his boots in 2012 after 16 year of service to the sport.
During his international stint, Dravid scored 24208 runs from 605 innings of 509 matches. He has 13288 runs from 286 innings of 164 test matches with an average of 52.31. Rahul also scored 10889 runs from 318 innings of 344 ODI matches with an average of 39.16 and strike rate of 71.24. He played just one T20I match and scored 31 runs with strike rate of 147.61.
His highest individual score was 270 which he scored against Pakistan at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in 2004. He scored 48 centuries and 146 half centuries in his career. Dravid is 6th on the list of Cricketers with most international runs.
5. Jacques Kallis (South Africa)
Former South Africa Cricketer Jacques Kallis is the most run getter for South Africa. Kallis started his international career in 1995. He hung his boots in 2014 after 19 year of service to the sport.
During his international stint, Jacques scored 25534 runs from 617 innings of 519 matches. This included 13289 runs from 280 innings of 166 test matches with an average of 55.37. He also scored 11579 runs from 314 innings of 328 ODI matches with an average of 44.36 and strike rate of 72.89. He played a few T20I matches as well and scored 666 runs from 23 innings of 25 matches with an average of 35.05 and strike rate of 119.35.
His highest individual score was 224 which he scored against Sri Lanka at Newlands, Cape Town in 2012. He scored 62 centuries and 149 half centuries in his career. Jacques Kallis is 5th on the list of Cricketers with most international runs.
4. Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka)
Former Sri Lanka Cricketer Mahela Jayawardene is the second most run getter for South Africa. Mahela started his international career in 1997. He hung his boots in 2015 after 18 year of service to the sport.
During his international stint, Jayawardene scored 25957 runs from 725 innings of 652 matches. This included 11814 runs from 252 innings of 149 test matches with an average of 49.84. He also scored 12650 runs from 418 innings of 448 ODI matches with an average of 33.37 and strike rate of 78.96. He played T20I matches as well and scored 1493 runs from 55 innings of 55 matches with an average of 31.76 and strike rate of 133.18.
His highest individual score was 374 which he scored against South Africa at Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo in 2006. He scored 54 centuries and 136 half centuries in his career. Mahela Jayawardene is 4th on the list of Cricketers with most international runs.
3. Ricky Ponting (Australia)
Former Australia Cricketer Ricky Ponting is the most run getter for Australia. Ricky started his international career in 1995. He hung his boots in 2012 after 17 year of service to the sport.
During his international stint, Ponting scored 27483 runs from 560 innings of 668 matches. This included 13378 runs from 287 innings of 168 test matches with an average of 51.85. He also scored 13704 runs from 365 innings of 375 ODI matches with an average of 42.03 and strike rate of 80.39. He played T20I matches as well and scored 401 runs from 16 innings of 17 matches with an average of 28.64 and strike rate of 132.78.
His highest individual score was 257 which he scored against India at Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2003. He scored 71 centuries and 146 half centuries in his career. Ricky Ponting is 3rd on the list of Cricketers with most international runs.
2. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)
Former Sri Lanka Cricketer Kumar Sangakkara is the most run getter for Sri Lanka. Kumar started his international career in 2000. He hung his boots in 2015 after 15 year of service to the sport.
During his international stint, Sangakkara scored 28016 runs from 666 innings of 594 matches. This included 12400 runs from 233 innings of 134 test matches with an average of 57.40. He also scored 14234 runs from 380 innings of 404 ODI matches with an average of 41.98 and strike rate of 78.86. Sangakkara played T20I matches as well and scored 1382 runs from 53 innings of 56 matches with an average of 31.40 and strike rate of 119.55.
His highest individual score was 319 which he scored against Bangladesh at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram in 2014. He scored 63 centuries and 153 half centuries in his career. Kumar Sangakkara is 2nd on the list of Cricketers with most international runs.
1. Sachin Tendulkar (India)
Former Sri Lanka Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar is the most run getter from International Cricket. Tendulkar started his international career in 2000. He hung his boots in 2015 after 15 year of service to the sport.
During his international stint, Tendulkar scored 34357 runs from 782 innings of 664 matches. This included 15921 runs from 329 innings of 200 test matches with an average of 53.78. He also scored 18426 runs from 452 innings of 463 ODI matches with an average of 44.83 and strike rate of 86.23. Tendulkar played just one T20I match and scored 10 with a strike rate of 83.33.
His highest individual score was 248 not out which he scored against Bangladesh at Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka in 2004. He scored 100 centuries and 164 half centuries in his career. Sachin Tendulkar is 1st on the list of Cricketers with most international runs.