Some of the best batting performances in cricketing history came from the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup. With Sachin Tendulkar’s unparalleled consistency, the record-breaking 2023 campaign from Virat Kohli, there have been a number of legendary batters who lit up the tournament with their run-scoring exploits.
The legendary Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar continues to be the holder of the record for the most runs in ODI World Cup history with 2,278 runs. He made these runs off just 6 World Cup games and created a record that is one of the toughest feats in international cricket.
Virat Kohli already holds the second spot in the all-time list and another huge record in 2023 World Cup; most runs by any batter in a single edition of men’s Cricket World Cup-765.
Most Runs in ODI World Cup History
Here are some of the leading run-scorers in ODI World Cup history:
| Rank | Player | Country | World Cup Runs |
| 1 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 2,278 |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | India | 1,795 |
| 3 | Ricky Ponting | Australia | 1,743 |
| 4 | Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 1,532 |
| 5 | Rohit Sharma | India | 1,575 |
| 6 | Brian Lara | West Indies | 1,225 |
| 7 | AB de Villiers | South Africa | 1,207 |
| 8 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 1,186 |
| 9 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 1,165 |
| 10 | David Warner | Australia | 1,152 |
Note: World Cup career statistics can change when additional editions are played, so the table should be updated after every future ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Who Has Scored the Most Runs in the ODI World Cup?
The question who scored most runs in the ODI World Cup – Sachin Tendulkar.
Tendulkar amassed 2,278 runs in his World Cup career. He featured in six editions : 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2007 and lastly in the year of his international retirement – 2011.
He played in many memorable World Cup innings and was part of the Indian team that won the 2011 World Cup on home turf.
The records not only serve as testament to Tendulkar’s batting prowess but also his remarkable longevity at the highest level of international cricket.
Top 10 Highest Run Scorers in World Cup History
1. Sachin Tendulkar – 2,278 Runs
The player who scored the most number of runs in the history of Cricket World Cup so far, is Sachin Tendulkar. He has totalled 2,278 runs for the first name in any list made up of the most runs in an ODI World Cup.
He went on to play in no less than six World Cups, including a record breaking outing in the 2003 tournament when he scored 673 runs (still the most runs by any player in a single World Cup’to date).
2. Virat Kohli – 1,795 Runs
Virat Kohli is fast becoming one of the greatest batters in World Cup history. In the 2023 World Cup, he scored 765 runs to break the long-standing record of Sachin Tendulkar who had mustered up 673 runs in a single edition.
Kohli hit three hundreds and six fifties during the 2023 season. With an average of 95.62, he ended with the best average in the tournament.
3. Ricky Ponting – 1,743 Runs
Ricky Ponting is one of the most successful World Cup batters in history for Australia
Ponting was also instrumental during Australia’s dominance in the 2000s and he contributed to World Cup-winning sides with Australia. His fierce batting and on-field leadership helped make him one of the best players of his generation rather than just leading Scorpions’ great success as a franchise.
4. Kumar Sangakkara – 1,532 Runs
Another World Cup great was Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara.
The classy left-hand batter was a very dependable player, played lots of exquisite strokes and established himself as one of Sri Lanka’s pivotal figures through various World Cup helms.
5. Rohit Sharma – 1,575 Runs
Another Indian batsman with incredible World cup numbers is Rohit Sharma.
That aggressive approach at the opening position has fast made him one of the deadliest batsman in ODI cricket. He is also the highest century maker in men’s Cricket World Cup’s history with seven.
Most Runs in a Single ODI World Cup
The record for the most runs in a single ODI World Cup belongs to Virat Kohli.
| Rank | Player | World Cup | Runs |
| 1 | Virat Kohli | 2023 | 765 |
| 2 | Sachin Tendulkar | 2003 | 673 |
| 3 | Matthew Hayden | 2007 | 659 |
| 4 | Rohit Sharma | 2019 | 648 |
| 5 | David Warner | 2019 | 647 |
Kohli scored 765 runs in 11 matches during the 2023 World Cup. The ICC confirmed that this was the highest aggregate by an individual batter in a single men’s Cricket World Cup.
Virat Kohli World Cup Runs
Virat Kohli has become one of the most successful World Cup batsmen in the history of the modern game.
His campaign in 2023 was especially dominant. He scored:
- 765 runs
- 11 matches
- Three centuries
- Six 50-plus scores
- 95.62 batting average
- 90.31 strike rate
In fact, he amassed 765 runs, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s previous record of 673 runs from the year in which the India great had claimed a second World Cup.
Sachin Tendulkar World Cup Runs
One of the most celebrated records in cricket, especially in ODI format is Sachin Tendulkar’s World Cup record.
He has 2,278 runs to his name in six World Cup gestands. His performances throughout the 1990s and 2000s cemented him as a transcendent cricketer.
His 673 runs in the 2003 World Cup was the highest aggregate by a batsman in a single tournament, which stood until Virat Kohli broke the record in 2023.
Most Runs in Cricket World Cup: Sachin vs Virat Kohli
The comparison between Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli is one of the most popular discussions among cricket fans.
| Record | Sachin Tendulkar | Virat Kohli |
| World Cup career runs | 2,278 | 1,795 |
| Highest single World Cup | 673 | 765 |
| World Cup centuries | 6 | 5* |
| World Cup appearances | 6 | 4* |
| Country | India | India |
*Statistics should be checked and updated for the latest completed World Cup.
Tendulkar currently leads the overall World Cup run-scoring record, while Kohli owns the record for the most runs in a single World Cup.
Most Runs in ODI World Cup by Indian Players
India has had some outstanding batters in their World Cup history. The leading run-scorers from India are:
- Sachin Tendulkar
- Virat Kohli
- Rohit Sharma
- Sourav Ganguly
- Rahul Dravid
With a list so long dominated by players from India, it shows how the country has bred tons of ODI batsmen on big stages for many years throughout cricket history.
Why Are World Cup Runs Important?
A World Cup is such a high-intensity tournament that scoring runs in it feels different to an ODI series you could play in the regular bilateral world. Players are under tremendous pressure as each match can affect their chances of advancing in the tournament for their team.
A batsman who can help either qualify his team for the final or win him a World Cup, will invariably be remembered long after.
A World Cup run can also be a huge part of the legacy for the players involved. Those records belong to Tendulkar, Ponting, Sangakkara and Kohli, who have shown how several editions of sustained performance can be a benchmark for a player.
Most Runs in ODI World Cup – Key Records
Here are some important ODI World Cup batting records:
- Most World Cup career runs: Sachin Tendulkar – 2,278
- Most runs in one World Cup: Virat Kohli – 765
- Most runs in 2003 World Cup: Sachin Tendulkar – 673
- Most runs in 2019 World Cup: Rohit Sharma – 648
- Most runs in 2023 World Cup: Virat Kohli – 765
- Most World Cup centuries: Rohit Sharma – 7
- Most World Cup runs for Australia: Ricky Ponting – 1,743
The ICC’s official records confirm Kohli’s 765-run 2023 campaign as the highest individual run tally in a single men’s World Cup.
Read More: Oldest Cricket Stadium in the World || Highest Individual Score in ODI
FAQ’s About Most Runs in ODI World Cup
Who has the most runs in ODI World Cup history?
Sachin Tendulkar has scored the most runs in men’s ODI World Cup history, with 2,278 runs.
Who scored the most runs in a single ODI World Cup?
Virat Kohli holds the record with 765 runs in the 2023 World Cup.
Who is the second-highest run scorer in World Cup history?
Virat Kohli is currently among the leading World Cup run-scorers and has surpassed several former greats in the all-time rankings.
How many runs did Sachin Tendulkar score in World Cups?
Sachin Tendulkar scored 2,278 runs across six men’s Cricket World Cup tournaments.
How many runs did Virat Kohli score in the 2023 World Cup?
Virat Kohli scored 765 runs in 11 matches during the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
Who scored the most runs in the 2023 World Cup?
Virat Kohli was the leading run-scorer in the 2023 World Cup with 765 runs.
Conclusion
Sachin Tendulkar has the record for most number of runs in ODI World Cup history – 2,278 – which is a gold standard as far as batting at the World Cup goes. With that list, Virat Kohli now sits as his nearest rival of the modern age and also set another record by making 765 in the 2023 World Cup – most runs scored by any batter in a single men’s World Cups.
The duel between legendary run-getters like Tendulkar, Kohli, Ponting, Sangakkara and Rohit Sharma has made World Cup batting records one of the most interesting topics in ODI cricket for fans.Most Runs in ODI World Cup: Top Run Scorers in Cricket World Cup History
This time it is the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup which has witnessed some of the finest batting displays ever on a cricketing field. Time and again, the tournament has seen several legendary batters scoring runs in abundance, starting from Sachin Tendulkar’s famed consistency to Virat Kohli’s record-breaking 2023 campaign.
In the list of most runs scored in any ODI World Cup, Indian legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar holds the first place with 2,278 runs. He made these runs in six World Cups and he set up a record that is still considered as one of the hardest feats to accomplish in international cricket.
This also saw Virat Kohli take second on the all-time list, along with another major record: he bagged 765 runs in the 2023 World Cup, the most by any batter across editions of men’s Cricket World Cups.
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