Top 10 Players With Most Runs In International Cricket In All Formats
International run-scoring charts tell more than just who piled up the most numbers; they trace how the game itself has changed over decades. From Sachin Tendulkar setting sky‑high standards in packed stadiums to Virat Kohli chasing totals with almost machine‑like consistency, each name on this list represents a different era and style of batting.
Some were elegant technicians, some were aggressive game‑breakers, and a few quietly did the hard work year after year until their run tallies suddenly looked untouchable.
Looking at the top 10 players with the most runs in international cricket across all formats is like scrolling through a living history of modern cricket, where every record carries memories of specific knocks, series, and late‑night matches that fans still talk about.
1. Sachin Tendulkar – 34,357 Runs
Sachin Tendulkar is still number one, with a huge 34,357 international runs across Tests, ODIs and T20Is, a record that has stood untouched since his retirement in 2013.
This came from 664 matches and more than two decades of opening TVs for fans who grew up timing evenings around his batting. Many still recall simple images: a straight drive at Sharjah, a clipped four at Chennai, and the quiet feeling that if he was set, the day would be alright.
2. Virat Kohli – 28,068+ Runs
Virat Kohli has moved up to second place with more than 28,068 international runs, recently passing Kumar Sangakkara and becoming the closest active batter to Tendulkar’s mark.
In early January 2026, he also became the fastest to 28,000 runs in just 624 innings, underlining how often he turns starts into big scores across formats.
Recent ODIs against New Zealand showed the usual pattern: chase on, run rate under control, Kohli walking off with a fluent 90‑odd and the opposition wondering where exactly the game slipped away.
3. Kumar Sangakkara – 28,016 Runs
Kumar Sangakkara sits third with 28,016 international runs, a blend of elegant left‑hand strokeplay and serious wicket‑keeping workload through most of his career.
He was that kind of player who could turn a tricky 20 for 2 into a calm 150 partnership, often with a cover drive that looked more like a practice drill than a pressure shot.
4. Mahela Jayawardene – 25,957 Runs
Mahela Jayawardene is fourth, with 25,957 runs that quietly arrived over years of classy, under‑stated batting for Sri Lanka.
Fans often remember his big World Cup knocks, but there were also many low‑key, important 70s on slow pitches where he just worked the ball around and let others swing big.
5. Ricky Ponting – 27,483 Runs
Ricky Ponting’s 27,483 runs came with that familiar pull shot and a competitive edge that defined Australia’s golden era.
Scoreboards from the 2000s are full of “Ponting 100‑something” on hard Australian tracks, where once he settled, the only real question was how long the fielding side would be stuck chasing leather.
6. Jacques Kallis – 25,534 Runs
Jacques Kallis has 25,534 runs, and that is before even counting his wickets, which makes his all‑round record look almost unreal.
Many matches followed a familiar script: early collapse, Kallis steady at one end, nudging, driving, leaving, and by stumps the game somehow back under South Africa’s control.
7. Rahul Dravid – 24,208 Runs
Rahul Dravid’s 24,208 international runs were built on patience, technique, and a willingness to do tough jobs like opening in challenging overseas conditions.
Scorecards may say “Dravid 148” but the memory is often of him quietly batting through a whole day, helmet slightly tilted, leaving ball after ball and slowly turning hostile crowds into reluctant admirers.
8. Brian Lara – 22,358 Runs
Brian Lara made 22,358 runs, many of them in epic, story‑like innings that fans still talk about in full detail years later.
His big scores, including those famous 375 and 400 in Tests, often felt less like regular innings and more like long solos where bowlers were just rotating around a batter in his own world.
9. Joe Root – 21,774+ Runs
Joe Root is ninth with over 21,774 international runs and remains the modern anchor of England’s batting line‑up.
In recent seasons he has quietly kept adding hundreds home and away, with that late cut and gentle rotation of strike, turning tricky mornings into comfortable evenings for England more times than the numbers alone can show.
10. Sanath Jayasuriya – 21,032 Runs
Sanath Jayasuriya rounds out the top ten with 21,032 runs and a reputation as one of the players who changed how ODI powerplays were used.
Many fans still recall those 1990s and early‑2000s games where, before most people had settled with snacks, Jayasuriya had already smashed 40 off 20 balls and forced the fielding captain into panic field changes.
These numbers and rankings reflect official international runs across Tests, ODIs and T20Is up to mid‑January 2026, giving a clear, updated picture for readers searching for the all‑time highest run‑scorers in world cricket.
Disclaimer: The run stats and rankings mentioned above are based on publicly available records up to mid‑January 2026 and may change as active players continue their careers. Readers are advised to cross‑check key numbers with official boards or trusted cricket databases for the latest updates.
