ICC Men’s ODI World Cup is the most prestigious tournament in 50 over cricket, where great batsmen have played some amazing innings. Consistent scoring in a World Cup is one of the hardest tasks in cricket for the reason that the teams get to face some of the best bowlers in the world under enormous pressure. Not many batsmen have managed to score 1,500+ runs in the history of the ODI World Cup, but Sachin Tendulkar of India still holds the record.
Most Runs in ODI World Cup History
| Rank | Player | Team | Matches | Runs | Average | 100s | 50s | Highest Score |
| 1 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 45 | 2,278 | 56.95 | 6 | 15 | 152 |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | India | 37 | 1,795 | 59.83 | 5 | 12 | 117 |
| 3 | Ricky Ponting | Australia | 46 | 1,743 | 45.86 | 5 | 6 | 140* |
| 4 | Rohit Sharma | India | 28 | 1,575 | 60.57 | 8 | 7 | 140 |
| 5 | Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 37 | 1,532 | 56.74 | 5 | 7 | 124 |
| 6 | David Warner | Australia | 29 | 1,527 | 56.55 | 6 | 5 | 178 |
| 7 | Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 36 | 1,332 | 41.62 | 2 | 11 | 124* |
| 8 | Brian Lara | West Indies | 34 | 1,225 | 42.24 | 2 | 7 | 116 |
| 9 | AB de Villiers | South Africa | 23 | 1,207 | 63.52 | 4 | 6 | 162* |
| 10 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 35 | 1,186 | 35.93 | 2 | 7 | 215 |
Also Read: T20 Women’s World Cup Winners List || Fastest Century in T20 International Cricket
Sachin Tendulkar – The King of ODI World Cup Runs
Sachin Tendulkar is still the player who has scored the maximum number of runs in the ODI World Cup at 2,278 runs in six editions played from 1992 to 2011. The player scored an average of 57 and notched up six centuries and fifteen fifties in that period.
The best World Cup of Sachin Tendulkar was undoubtedly in 2003 when he managed to score 673 runs, which remained the most runs scored in a World Cup edition for almost two decades. Sachin Tendulkar finally achieved the dream of winning the ODI World Cup in 2011.
Virat Kohli Climbs to Second Position
Virat Kohli has emerged as one of the greatest batters in the history of ODI World Cups. Kohli notched up many batting milestones in the 2023 World Cup and scored 765 runs, thereby breaking the record of the highest runs scored by any batter in a single ODI World Cup.
He now has 1,795 World Cup runs, beating Ricky Ponting’s tally of runs and coming second on the all-time list. His consistency, chasing skills, and match-winning tons have made him one of the best World Cup players in cricket history.
Ricky Ponting – Australia’s World Cup Legend
Australia’s former captain, Ricky Ponting, made 1,743 runs in World Cups and won three World Cups in his career. His score of 140 runs in the 2003 World Cup Final game against India is considered one of the most remarkable innings ever played in any World Cup.
Ponting was a great batsman who combined aggression and good leadership.
Rohit Sharma’s Incredible World Cup Numbers
Rohit Sharma is one of the best World Cup openers who ever played the game. He has scored 1,575 runs and stands fourth on the all-time run-getters’ list although he has played less number of matches compared to those who come before him on the list.
Some of his milestones include:
- Record 8 centuries in World Cups
- Five centuries in the World Cup 2019
- Superb strike-rate in the modern era of ODIs
- Average more than 60 in World Cups
His aggressive opening has changed India’s approach to ICC tournaments.
Kumar Sangakkara’s Elegant World Cup Career
Kumar Sangakkara, who is one of the greatest players from Sri Lanka, has scored 1,532 runs in ODI World Cups with an average of over 56.
This brilliant player contributed greatly in helping Sri Lanka reach the World Cup final in both 2007 and 2011. He was one of the best batsmen in the World Cup.
David Warner’s Outstanding World Cup Record
The most prolific active batsman for Australia in the World Cup with 1,527 runs is David Warner.
It was due to his power hitting in the upper order that Australia won the World Cup twice, in 2015 and 2023. Warner has achieved six centuries in the World Cup.
Most Runs in a Single ODI World Cup
| Player | Runs | World Cup |
| Virat Kohli | 765 | 2023 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 673 | 2003 |
| Matthew Hayden | 659 | 2007 |
| Rohit Sharma | 648 | 2019 |
| David Warner | 647 | 2019 |
Conclusion
The top list of World Cup ODI runs includes some of the best batters that cricket has seen that have managed to excel at such a big platform. Sachin Tendulkar still holds the top spot with 2,278 runs, whereas Virat Kohli comes second now with his fantastic performance in 2023. Other batters that also make the list include Ricky Ponting, Rohit Sharma, Kumar Sangakkara, and David Warner.
With more ODI World Cups ahead, some of the current stars would definitely try to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record.
FAQs
Who has scored the most runs in ODI World Cup history?
Sachin Tendulkar holds the record with 2,278 runs in ODI World Cup history.
Who has the most runs in a single ODI World Cup?
Virat Kohli scored 765 runs during the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, the highest in a single edition.
Which player has the most centuries in ODI World Cup history?
Rohit Sharma holds the record with 8 World Cup centuries.
How many ODI World Cup runs did Ricky Ponting score?
Ricky Ponting scored 1,743 runs across five ODI World Cups.
Which active player has the most ODI World Cup runs?
Virat Kohli is the highest-scoring active player in ODI World Cup history with 1,795 runs.

