Most Runs in International Cricket in All Formats: Top 10

International cricket is arguably the highest level of competition in the world of cricket. Players from each country compete against one another in Test matches, One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). Achieving high scores regularly in all three types of matches takes a great deal of skill, patience, physical conditioning and flexibility.

Most runs in international cricket for all forms of the game (Tests, ODIs, and T20Is), India’s great batsman Sachin Tendulkar is still the number one Sachin completed his international career with an outstanding 34,357 runs in all three types of matches. The record set by Tendulkar will be considered as one of the best achievements in cricket.

A number of top-tier cricketers (such as Virat Kohli, Kumar Sangakkara, Ricky Ponting, Mahela Jayawardene, and Jacques Kallis) have surpassed 25,000 runs in all types of international cricket.

In this article, I am going to write about the 10 most successful run getters in international cricket. I am also going to include information regarding what they have done throughout their careers and how much they have contributed to the game.

Top 10 Most Runs in International Cricket in All Formats

The following table highlights the top 10 batsmen with the highest combined runs in men’s international cricket across all three formats.

Rank	Player	Team	International Runs
1	Sachin Tendulkar	India	34,357
2	Virat Kohli	India	28,527
3	Kumar Sangakkara	Sri Lanka	28,016
4	Ricky Ponting	Australia	27,483
5	Mahela Jayawardene	Sri Lanka	25,957
6	Jacques Kallis	South Africa	25,534
7	Rahul Dravid	India	24,208
8	Joe Root	England	23,074
9	Brian Lara	West Indies	22,358
10	Sanath Jayasuriya	Sri Lanka	21,032

These figures combine runs scored in Test matches, ODIs, and T20Is. Active players’ totals can change as they continue playing international cricket.

1. Sachin Tendulkar

The most runs scored by an individual in the history of international cricket (across all formats) is held by Sachin Tendulkar. From 1989-2013, the former Indian international player amassed a total of 34,357 runs throughout his long and successful international career.

Tendulkar was a long-term player for India, having played for the national team for 24 years. Due to his consistency in all forms of cricket (Test, ODI, T20I), and on various types of pitches/conditions, he is widely regarded as one of the best batsmen of all-time in the sport of cricket.

In addition to playing 200 Test matches, 463 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and one Twenty20 International (T20I), he has also accumulated 15,921 runs in Tests, 18,426 runs in ODIs and 10 runs in T20Is during his international cricket career.

Some of his major achievements include:

First batsman to score 100 international centuries.
Highest run scorer in Test cricket history.
Highest run scorer in ODI cricket history.
First player to score a double century in men’s ODI cricket.
Member of India’s 2011 Cricket World Cup-winning team.

Tendulkar’s record of 34,357 international runs remains the benchmark for every generation of cricketers.

2. Virat Kohli

The current era’s best batsman Virat Kohli ranks as the second-highest run-scorer in all of international cricket.

Indian cricketer, who debuted internationally in 2008, was able to establish himself as an excellent batsman in each of the three formats. He has been one of the most successful cricketers in recent history due to his aggressive batting style, consistency, and ability to perform well when there is high pressure.

Kohli has amassed over 28,000 international runs and achieved numerous centuries and half-centuries throughout all formats.

His major achievements include:

Fastest batsman to reach several international run milestones.
Winner of the 2011 ODI Cricket World Cup.
Winner of the 2013 Champions Trophy.
Winner of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Multiple ICC Cricketer of the Year awards.

Kohli surpassed Kumar Sangakkara in January 2026 to become the second-highest run scorer in men’s international cricket. He continues to represent India in ODI cricket.

3. Kumar Sangakkara

During his career in international cricket (2000-2015), Kumar Sangakkara established himself as one of the best batsmen and wicket-keepers for Sri Lanka. His total run count for all forms of international matches reached 28,016.

Sangakkara had a style of playing cricket that was considered very stylish with great shot selection. He could play well in many types of weather.

He was involved in 134 Test matches, 404 ODI matches, and 56 T20 International matches. During his international career he had 63 centuries and 153 half-centuries.

Some important career achievements include:

12,400 runs in Test cricket.
14,234 runs in ODI cricket.
1,382 runs in T20 Internationals.
Winner of the 2014 T20 World Cup.
Part of Sri Lanka’s 2011 Cricket World Cup final team.

He remains one of the most respected cricketers in Sri Lankan cricket history.

4. Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting was one of Australia’s top captain-batsman. In a period from 1995-2012, Ponting amassed 27,483 international runs.

Ponting was known for his attack-oriented batting, his ability to make powerful pull shots, and his excellent leadership qualities. He was instrumental in establishing Australia’s dominance in the world of international cricket from the latter part of the 1990s through the 2000s.

He played in 168 Test matches, 375 ODIs, and 17 T20 International games during his international career.

Major achievements:

13,378 Test runs.
13,704 ODI runs.
71 international centuries.
Captain of Australia’s 2003 and 2007 ODI World Cup-winning teams.
Member of Australia’s 1999 World Cup-winning team.

Ponting remains one of the most successful captains and run scorers in cricket history.

5. Mahela Jayawardene

Mahela Jayawardene was a great Sri Lankan batsman who contributed greatly to international cricket. He scored 25,957 runs in all forms of the game.

Sri Lanka’s representative in international cricket from 1997 through 2015, he had his greatest success in Test and One Day International (ODI) formats of the game.

Jayawardene was recognized for being an elegant shot maker, having a calm demeanour, and the capability of developing large innings.

His major career statistics include:

11,814 Test runs.
12,650 ODI runs.
1,493 T20I runs.
54 international centuries.
Winner of the 2014 T20 World Cup.

Jayawardene also played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s journey to the 2007 and 2011 ODI World Cup finals.

6. Jacques Kallis

Jacques Kallis has been widely recognized as one of the best all-arounders in cricket history. Kallis had a total of 25,534 runs while playing for South Africa.

Kallis was as good at hitting the ball as he was at throwing it. He could hit the ball far enough to give his team some needed points and throw it hard enough to get people out. This made him one of the most useful people on the field during his time.

He played 166 Test matches, 328 ODIs, and 25 T20 Internationals.

His major achievements include:

13,289 Test runs.
11,579 ODI runs.
666 T20I runs.
62 international centuries.
More than 500 international wickets.

Kallis demonstrated exceptional consistency and remained a key player for South Africa for nearly two decades.

7. Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid, commonly referred to as The Wall, is among India’s top Test batters. Dravid accumulated 24,208 total runs across all international formats between 1996 and 2012.

Dravid is well-known for being very patient, having excellent defensive techniques, and being able to stay on the pitch for extended amounts of time. Dravid has contributed to some of the most historic wins by India, especially in the Test Cricket format.

His global cricket experience includes 164 test matches, 344 one-day international matches, and 1 T20 international.

Important achievements:

13,288 Test runs.
10,889 ODI runs.
48 international centuries.
Member of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup-winning squad.
Key contributor to India’s 2003 ODI World Cup campaign.

Dravid also served as India’s head coach and helped the team win the 2024 T20 World Cup.

8. Joe Root

The modern-era batsman from England who has been the most successful, Joe Root, has proven himself to be a reliable player, especially in test cricket.

Root began playing internationally in 2012, and since then he has continued to score runs off many of the top bowlers from around the globe.

He has reached the top 10 list of all-time international run-scorers due to his batting style, his focus on the game, and his capacity to bat for long periods of time.

His major achievements include:

More than 13,000 Test runs.
More than 6,000 ODI runs.
60-plus international centuries.
Member of England’s 2019 Cricket World Cup-winning team.
One of the leading run scorers in modern Test cricket.

Unlike several other players on this list, Root remains an active international cricketer, meaning his overall run tally can continue to increase.

9. Brian Lara

Brian Lara was a great batsman for the West Indies. He made 22,358 runs in international cricket from 1990 until 2007.

Lara was known for his elegant batting style, great timing, and scoring very large amounts of runs.

He achieved several remarkable batting records during his international career.

His major achievements include:

11,953 Test runs.
10,405 ODI runs.
53 international centuries.
Highest individual Test score of 400 not out.
First-class record of 501 not out.

Lara’s 400 not out against England in 2004 remains the highest individual score in men’s Test cricket.

10. Sanath Jayasuriya

Sanath Jayasuriya completes the top 10 list of cricketers who have scored the most runs across all forms of international cricket.

The former Sri Lankan opening bat had a total of 21,032 international runs from 1989 through 2011.

Jayasuriya changed how people batted in One Day International (ODI) cricket by being aggressive at the beginning of each innings. He used this aggressive batting to help Sri Lanka win their first Cricket World Cup in 1996.

His career achievements include:

6,973 Test runs.
13,430 ODI runs.
629 T20I runs.
42 international centuries.
Winner of the 1996 ODI Cricket World Cup.

He was also an effective left-arm spinner and finished his career with more than 400 international wickets.

Most Runs in International Cricket: Format-Wise Records

International cricket consists of three major formats: Test cricket, One Day Internationals, and Twenty20 Internationals.

Some players have dominated one particular format, while others have demonstrated their abilities across all three.

Here are the leading men’s run scorers in each format:

Format	Highest Run Scorer	Country	Runs
Test Cricket	Sachin Tendulkar	India	15,921
ODI Cricket	Sachin Tendulkar	India	18,426
T20 International	Rohit Sharma	India	4,231

Sachin Tendulkar holds the highest career run records in both Test and ODI cricket. Rohit Sharma holds the men’s T20I career run record in this statistical snapshot.

Which Country Has the Most Players in the Top 10?

India and Sri Lanka have the highest representation in this list.

India has three players in the top 10: Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Rahul Dravid.

Sri Lanka also has three players: Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, and Sanath Jayasuriya.

Australia, South Africa, England, and the West Indies have one player each.

This demonstrates the significant contributions made by Indian and Sri Lankan batsmen to international cricket.

Conclusion

Scoring the most runs in international cricket, in each of the three forms of the game (Test, ODI, T20I), is a significant accomplishment within the world of cricket. This requires an extraordinary level of performance over a long period of time, a tremendous amount of hard work and commitment, physical fitness, as well as being able to adapt to different bowling styles and playing surfaces.

Sachin Tendulkar is at the top of the all-time run-scorers list with 34,357 runs; Virat Kohli is currently in second place with 28,527 runs. There are several other legendary batsmen including Kumar Sangakkara, Ricky Ponting, Mahela Jayawardene and Jacques Kallis who have achieved great things in cricket by scoring many runs.

The achievements of these players have influenced millions of cricket lovers and created benchmarks which will be significant markers in the history of international cricket.

FAQs

1. Who has scored the most runs in international cricket in all formats?

Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most runs in international cricket, with 34,357 runs across Test matches, ODIs, and T20Is.

2. Who is second on the list of most international runs?

Virat Kohli holds second place with 28,527 international runs, making him the second-highest run scorer in men’s international cricket.

3. How many international runs did Sachin Tendulkar score?

Sachin Tendulkar scored 34,357 international runs, including 15,921 in Tests, 18,426 in ODIs, and 10 in T20Is.

4. Who has scored the most runs in Test cricket?

Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most Test runs, with 15,921 runs in 200 Test matches.

5. Who has scored the most runs in ODI cricket?

Sachin Tendulkar is the highest run scorer in ODI cricket history, with 18,426 runs in 463 matches.

6. Who has scored the most runs in T20 International cricket?

Rohit Sharma holds the men’s T20I career run-scoring record, with 4,231 runs.