The World Cup is the biggest stage for a player to perform under pressure. Every run score in this mega event is of great significance. But there are some batsmen who have the knack to thrive under pressure. Those cricketers love to bat in pressure situations. Which one of these players do you think has scored the most runs in ODI World Cup?
Let’s discuss the all-time top 10 ODI World Cup run-scorers:
1. Sachin Tendulkar
The greatest batsman in cricket history played his first ODI World Cup in 1992. His 6th and final World Cup was in 2011, where he helped his side to win the trophy after 28 years. Sachin scored 2278 runs in the marquee event while averaging 56.95. He smashed 15 half-centuries and a hundred in 6 editions.
His strike rate of 88.98 is also highly impressive, considering the era in which he played most of his World Cups. His highest score in 44 innings was 152. With these superb stats, Tendulkar has got the most runs in ODI World Cup.
2. Ricky Ponting
The most successful captain in the history of ICC events, finds himself second on this list. Ponting amassed 1743 runs in 5 World Cup seasons from 1996 to 2011. He averaged 45.86 and struck at 79.95. The former Aussie skipper picked 6 fifties and 5 centuries in 42 innings.
Australia managed to win 3 out of these 5 World Cups. Ponting’s best World Cup innings was in the 2003 World Cup final. He smashed a 140* against India, which turned out to be a match-winning effort.
3. Kumar Sangakkara
The elegant left-handed batsman loved batting in the World Cups. He got 1532 runs in 35 innings. Sanga played 4 World Cups and scored 5 tons along with 7 half tons. He had a solid average of 56.74 and a fine strike rate of 86.55. The Sri Lankan’s highest World Cup score was 124 runs.
4. Brain Lara
The Caribbean is regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of his generation. He has got the most runs in ODI World Cup for a West Indies batter. Lara piled up 1225 runs in 33 innings at an average of 42.24. He brought up 7 half-centuries and 2 centuries in 5 editions. Lara scored runs at a strike rate of 86.26, and his highest World Cup total was 116.
5. AB de Villiers
The South African played only 3 ODI World Cups from 2007 to 2015. He scored 1207 runs in just 22 innings. These runs came at a terrific average and strike rate of 63.52 and 117.29. ABD smashed 162* in his last World Cup, which is his highest score in the mega event. He struck 6 fifties and 4 hundreds in his World Cup career.
6. Chris Gayle
The Universe Boss accumulated 1186 runs in 5 World Cup seasons from 2003 to 2019. He averaged 35.94 and struck at 90.53 in 34 innings. He got 6 half tons and 2 tons, along with a double ton. His highest score was 215, and he is the only batsman on this list with a World Cup double hundred.
7. Sanath Jayasuriya
The former opening batsman made 1165 runs in 5 World Cups from 1992 to 2007. So, he has got the 7th most runs in ODI World Cup. His 37 knocks produced 6 fifties and half as many hundreds. His average of 34.26 was just par, but the strike rate of 90.53 was brilliant. His highest World Cup score was 120.
8. Jacque Kallis
The Protea amassed 1148 runs after batting in 32 World Cup matches. He scored 9 half-centuries and a century in 5 editions from 1996 to 2011. His average and strike rate were 45.92 and 74.40, respectively.
9. Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan has got the most runs in ODI World Cup history. In 29 matches, he has got 1146 runs at an average of 45.84 and a strike rate of 82.26. He has hammered a couple of hundreds and 10 fifties. His highest score in 4 World Cup editions is 124*.
10. Tillakaratne Dilshan
The Sri Lankan opener averaged 52.95 and struck at 92.97 in World Cups. He made 1112 runs along with 4 tons and as many half tons. He played 3 World Cup seasons from 2007 to 2015 and had the highest score of 161*.
Top 10 Batsmen With the Most Runs in ODI World Cup History
Let’s do a statistical review of the performances of the top 10 run scorers in ODI World Cups:
| Batsman | Country | Span | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | 1992-2011 | 44 | 2278 | 56.95 | 88.98 | 6 | 15 | 152 |
| Ricky Ponting | Australia | 1996-2011 | 42 | 1743 | 45.86 | 79.95 | 5 | 6 | 140* |
| Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 2003-2015 | 35 | 1532 | 56.74 | 86.55 | 5 | 7 | 124 |
| Brain Lara | West Indies | 1992-2007 | 33 | 1225 | 42.24 | 86.26 | 2 | 7 | 116 |
| AB de Villiers | South Africa | 2007-2015 | 22 | 1207 | 63.52 | 117.29 | 4 | 6 | 162* |
| Chris Gayle | West Indies | 2003-2019 | 34 | 1186 | 35.93 | 90.53 | 2 | 6 | 215 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 1992-2007 | 37 | 1165 | 34.26 | 90.66 | 3 | 6 | 120 |
| Jacque Kallis | South Africa | 1996-2011 | 32 | 1148 | 45.92 | 74.4 | 1 | 9 | 128* |
| Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 2007-2019 | 29 | 1146 | 45.84 | 82.26 | 2 | 10 | 124* |
| Tillakaratne Dilshan | Sri Lanka | 2007-2015 | 25 | 1112 | 52.95 | 92.97 | 4 | 4 | 161* |
Final Words
Sachin Tendulkar has got the record for the most runs in ODI World Cup. He has scored 2278 runs in 6 editions. The top 10 list of highest ODI World Cup run-scorers has 3 names from Sri Lanka. The other batsmen include 2 each from South Africa and West Indies and 1 each from India and Australia.
The list has 5 right-handers and as many left-handed batsmen. AB de Villiers has the most impressive average and strike rate in the World Cup among these batsmen.
