5 batters with most runs in international cricket ft. Virat Kohli
Veteran Team India batter Virat Kohli announced his retirement from T20I cricket after the Men in Blue's triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup. India beat South Africa by seven runs in the final in Barbados on June 29 to end their 11-year-old ICC title drought. Kohli top-scored in the final with 76 off 59, a knock that featured six fours and two sixes. He was also named the Player of the Final for his great effort.
The 35-year-old retired as the second-leading run-getter in the T20I format. In a stellar career, the former India captain played 125 matches and scored 4188 runs at an average of 48.69 and a strike rate of 137.04, with one hundred and 38 fifties. Rohit Sharma (4231), who has also retired from T20Is, and Pakistan's Babar Azam (4145) are the only other batters with 4000-plus runs in T20Is.
Kohli also features on the eminent list of batters who have scored the most number of runs in international cricket. Here's a look at the five batters with the most runs in Tests, T20I and ODIs combined.
#5 Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka)
Former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene features in fifth position on the list of batters with most runs in international cricket. He featured in 652 matches (725 innings) across the three formats of the game, amassing 25,957 runs at an average of 39.15, with 54 hundreds and 136 fifties.
Jayawardene played 149 Test matches, scoring 11814 runs at an average of 49.84, with 34 hundreds and 50 half-centuries. The 47-year-old also featured in 448 ODI games, smashing 12650 runs at an average of 33.37, with 19 hundreds and 77 fifties.
In T20Is, Jayawardene played 55 games, scoring 1493 runs at an average of 31.76 and a strike rate of 133.18. He hit one ton and nine fifties.
#4 Virat Kohli (India)
Kohli is fourth on the list of batters with most runs in international cricket. In 530 matches (588 innings), the former India captain has amassed 26,884 runs at an average of 53.55, with 80 hundreds and 140 half-centuries.
The right-handed batter has featured in 113 Tests, smashing 8848 runs at an average of 49.15, with 29 hundreds and 30 half-centuries.
Kohli has an amazing record in one-day cricket. In 292 matches, he has clobbered 13,848 runs, averaging 58.67, with 50 tons and 72 fifties. As mentioned earlier, he finished his T20I career with 4188 runs from 125 games.
#3 Ricky Ponting (Australia)
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting is at number three among batters with most runs in international cricket. He finished his illustrious career with 560 matches (668 innings), notching up 27483 runs at an average of 45.95, with 71 hundreds and 146 half-centuries.
The 49-year-old played 168 Tests, amassing 13,378 runs, averaging 51.85, which included 41 tons and 62 fifties. In one-dayers, the Aussies legend featured in 375 matches, scoring 13704 runs at an average of 42.03, with 30 hundreds and 82 fifties.
Ponting also played 17 T20Is, scoring 401 runs at a strike rate of 132.78, with two fifties, including a best of 98*.
#2 Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)
Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara occupies the second spot on the illustrious list of batters with most runs in international cricket. The former keeper-batter played 594 matches (666 innings) across the three formats, totaling 28,016 runs at an average of 46.77, with 63 hundreds and 153 half-centuries.
The 46-year-old featured in 134 Test matches, amassing 12400 runs at an excellent average of 57.40, with 38 hundreds and 52 half-centuries. The elegant left-hander turned out in 404 ODIs, scoring 14,234 runs at an average of 41.98, with 25 tons and 93 fifties.
In T20Is, Sangakkara scored 1382 runs in 56 matches at an average of 31.40 and a strike rate of 119.55, with eight half-centuries.
#1 Sachin Tendulkar (India)
Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar leads the famed list of players with most runs in international cricket.
The Master Blaster featured in 664 matches (782 innings) across the three formats, amassing 34,357 runs at an average of 48.52, with 100 hundreds and 164 half-centuries.
The former India captain featured in 200 Tests, scoring 15,921 runs at an average of 53.78, with 51 tons and 68 half-centuries.
In ODIs, he played 463 games and smashed 18,426 runs at an average of 44.83, with 49 centuries and 96 fifties. Tendulkar played only one T20I and scored 10 runs at a strike rate of 83.33.
(Note: Statistics include matches played for ICC and Asia. Stats courtesy: espncricinfo)