Top 5 batters with most runs for India in ODIs ft. Rohit Sharma
Team India captain Rohit Sharma has been in fantastic form for the Men in Blue in the ongoing ODI series against Sri Lanka. While India tied the first game and lost the second, their captain hammered 58 off 47 in the first and 64 off 44 in the second.
The 37-year-old has displayed exceptional form in ODIs for a while now. Since the start of September 2023, he has played 19 innings and has scored 994 runs at an average of 55.22 and a strike rate of 123.94, with one hundred and nine half-centuries. In his last 10 innings, Rohit has hit four fifties and has registered five scores in the 40s.
During his 64-run in the second ODI against Sri Lanka on Sunday, August 4, in Colombo, Rohit also moved up to No. 4 on the list of batters with the most runs for India in the format.
On that note, let's look at the list of top five batters with the most runs for Team India in ODIs.
#5 Rahul Dravid
Former India captain and ex-head coach Rahul Dravid is fifth on the list of batters with the most runs for India in the one-day format. Dravid featured in 340 ODIs [314 innings] and amassed 10768 runs at an average of 39.15, with 12 hundreds and 82 half-centuries.
Dravid's best of 153 came off 153 balls against New Zealand in Hyderabad in November 1999. He struck 15 fours and two sixes during his innings and featured in a massive second-wicket partnership of 331 with Sachin Tendulkar (186*).
The Indian legend also slammed a brilliant 145 off 129 balls in the 1999 ODI World Cup match against Sri Lanka in Taunton, a knock which included 17 fours and a six. In this game, Dravid added 318 runs for the second wicket with Sourav Ganguly, who clobbered 183 off 158 deliveries.
#4 Rohit Sharma
Current ODI and Test skipper Rohit is fourth on the list of batters with the most runs for India in one-dayers. In 264 matches [256 innings], he has notched up 10831 runs at an average of 49.23, with 31 hundreds and 57 half-centuries.
Rohit has the unique distinction of being the only batter with three double-hundreds in ODI cricket. The 37-year-old's best of 264 came against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in November 2014. The sublime knock came off 173 balls and featured 33 fours and nine sixes.
The Indian skipper also slammed 209 off 158 balls against Australia in Bengaluru in November 2013. The brilliant knock featured 12 fours and 16 sixes. Rohit scored his third ODI double ton against Sri Lanka in Mohali in December 2017. He clobbered 208* off 153 balls with the aid of 13 fours and 12 sixes.
#3 Sourav Ganguly
Former captain Sourav Ganguly is in the top three among the list of batters with the most runs for India in ODIs. Ganguly played 308 ODIs [297 innings] for the Men in Blue, amassing 11221 runs at an average of 40.95, with 22 hundreds and 71 half-centuries.
Ganguly's best of 183 came in the 1999 World Cup match against Sri Lanka in Taunton. He clubbed 17 fours and seven sixes in his 158-ball knock as India posted a mammoth 373-6 on the board and registered a thumping 157-run win in the one-sided contest.
Ganguly also scored 153* off 150 in the third ODI against New Zealand in Gwalior in November 1999, a knock which featured 18 fours and three sixes. He hammered 141* off 142 balls against South Africa in the semifinal of the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy and 117 off 130 in the final against New Zealand in Nairobi.
#2 Virat Kohli
Former captain Virat Kohli is second on the list of batters with the most runs for India in ODIs. In 294 matches [282 innings] he has amassed 13886 runs at an average of 58.34, with 50 hundreds and 72 half-centuries. He holds the record for having hit the most tons in ODIs.
Kohli's best of 183 was notched up against Pakistan in Mirpur in March 2012 in the Asia Cup. He slammed 22 fours and a six in his 148-ball knock as India won the contest by six wickets, chasing down a challenging target of 330 in 47.5 overs.
The 35-year-old also hammered 166* off 110 balls against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram in January 2023. The right-handed batter struck 13 fours and eight sixes in his knock. Kohli also hit a superb 160* off 159 balls against South Africa in Cape Town in February 2018.
#1 Sachin Tendulkar
Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar tops the list of batters with the most runs for India in ODIs. In 463 matches [452 innings], he amassed 18426 runs at an average of 44.83, with 49 tons and 96 fifties. Only Kohli has scored more hundreds than him in ODIs.
Tendulkar was the first batter to hammer a double hundred in one-dayers. He achieved the feat against South Africa in Gwalior in February 2010. The Master Blaster slammed 200* off 147 balls, an incredible knock that included 25 fours and three sixes.
The batting great also smashed 186* off 150 against New Zealand in Hyderabad in November 1999, slamming 20 fours and three sixes. Tendulkar also hit a stunning 175 off 141 balls against Australia in Hyderabad in November 2009. He slammed 19 fours and four sixes as India went down fighting in a chase of 351, losing the nail-biting contest by three runs.