Most Runs In International Cricket 2026 ft. Virat Kohli [All Formats]

International cricket recognizes three formats: Tests, One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).

Combined run totals across these formats measure career longevity and consistent performance.

Accumulating runs across formats requires sustained excellence over decades.

Players must adapt to different game conditions, opposition strategies, and physical demands.

The highest run-scorers demonstrate remarkable fitness, technical adaptability, and mental resilience.

This article documents verified run-scoring records across men’s and women’s international cricket.

Data covers career milestones, format-specific achievements, and updated rankings following recent developments in January 2026.

Most Runs In International Cricket 2026

Let’s travel through time and witness how the most runs in international cricket in all formats were built, broken, and built again.

Most Runs in Men’s International Cricket (All Formats) 2026

Rank	Player	Country	Total Runs	Career Span
1	Sachin Tendulkar	India	34,357	1989-2013
2	Virat Kohli	India	28,068	2008-Present
3	Kumar Sangakkara	Sri Lanka	28,016	2000-2015
4	Ricky Ponting	Australia	27,483	1995-2012
5	Mahela Jayawardene	Sri Lanka	25,957	1997-2015
6	Jacques Kallis	South Africa	25,534	1995-2014
7	Rahul Dravid	India	24,208	1996-2012
8	Brian Lara	West Indies	22,358	1990-2007
9	Joe Root	England	21,774	2012-Present
10	Sanath Jayasuriya	Sri Lanka	21,032	1989-2011

Sachin Tendulkar: The Benchmark

Sachin Tendulkar’s 34,357 international runs remain the highest career total. His 24-year career (1989-2013) set the standard for longevity and consistency.

Career timeline:

November 1989: Test debut at age 16
August 1990: First Test century (119 vs England)
March 1999: Reached 10,000 ODI runs
October 2008: First player to 30,000 international runs
February 2010: First ODI double century (200*)
March 2012: 100th international century
November 2013: Retired after 664 international matches

Format	Matches	Runs	Average	Centuries
Tests	200	15,921	53.78	51
ODIs	463	18,426	44.83	49
T20Is	1	10	10.00	0

Tendulkar’s records established benchmarks that define elite-level performance. His 100 international centuries and 30,000-run milestone created targets for subsequent generations.

Virat Kohli: Second on All-Time List

Virat Kohli surpassed Kumar Sangakkara’s 28,016 runs during January 2026, securing second position on the all-time men’s international run-scoring list. He trails only Sachin Tendulkar by 6,289 runs.

Kohli achieved the milestone during an ODI innings of 93 runs. The knock included eight fours and one six while chasing a target of 301. He formed a 118-run partnership with captain Shubman Gill, helping India secure a four-wicket victory.

The innings marked Kohli’s fifth consecutive fifty-plus score in ODIs, demonstrating sustained form at age 37.

Format	Matches	Runs	Average	Centuries
Tests	127	9,380	48.85	30
ODIs	315	14,570	58.42	51
T20Is	130	4,118	52.21	1

Key career landmarks:

August 2008: ODI debut vs Sri Lanka
June 2011: Test debut vs West Indies
August 2019: Reached 20,000 international runs
November 2023: 50th ODI century
January 2026: Surpassed Sangakkara for second place all-time

Kohli’s ODI batting average exceeds 58, ranking among the highest in format history. His consistency across formats spans 17 years of international cricket.

Kumar Sangakkara: Third on All-Time List

Kumar Sangakkara accumulated 28,016 international runs during his 15-year career (2000-2015). He held second position on the all-time list from retirement until being surpassed by Virat Kohli in January 2026.

Career highlights:

July 2000: International debut for Sri Lanka
February 2006: Scored 287 vs South Africa (Test)
January 2009: Reached 10,000 ODI runs
June 2011: Completed 10,000 Test runs
March 2015: Four consecutive ODI centuries in the World Cup
August 2015: Retired with 28,016 runs

Format	Matches	Runs	Average	Centuries
Tests	134	12,400	57.40	38
ODIs	404	14,234	41.98	25
T20Is	56	1,382	31.40	0

Sangakkara maintained a Test batting average above 57 while fulfilling wicketkeeping duties for significant portions of his career. His 11 Test double centuries rank among format’s highest totals.

Other Legends in the Top 10

Player	Country	Total Runs	Career Span
Ricky Ponting	Australia	27,483	1995-2012
Mahela Jayawardene	Sri Lanka	25,957	1997-2015
Jacques Kallis	South Africa	25,534	1995-2014
Rahul Dravid	India	24,208	1996-2012
Brian Lara	West Indies	22,358	1990-2007
Joe Root	England	21,774	2012-Present
Sanath Jayasuriya	Sri Lanka	21,032	1989-2011

Most Runs by Format

Test Cricket

Rank	Player	Runs	Matches
1	Sachin Tendulkar	15,921	200
2	Ricky Ponting	13,378	168
3	Jacques Kallis	13,289	166
4	Rahul Dravid	13,288	164
5	Kumar Sangakkara	12,400	134

ODI Cricket

Rank	Player	Runs	Matches
1	Sachin Tendulkar	18,426	463
2	Virat Kohli	14,570	315
3	Kumar Sangakkara	14,234	404
4	Ricky Ponting	13,704	375
5	Sanath Jayasuriya	13,430	445

T20I Cricket

Rank	Player	Runs	Matches
1	Babar Azam	4,429	132
2	Rohit Sharma	4,231	159
3	Virat Kohli	4,118	130
4	Jos Buttler	3,869	127
5	Paul Stirling	3,760	154

Women’s International Cricket: Highest Run-Scorers

Rank	Player	Country	Total Runs	Career Span
1	Mithali Raj	India	10,868	1999-2022
2	Charlotte Edwards	England	10,273	1996-2016
3	Suzie Bates	New Zealand	9,922	2006-Present
4	Meg Lanning	Australia	8,352	2010-2023
5	Stafanie Taylor	West Indies	8,134	2008-Present

Country-Wise Leaders in International Runs

India

Rank	Player	Total Runs
1	Sachin Tendulkar	34,357
2	Virat Kohli	28,068
3	Rahul Dravid	24,208
4	Sourav Ganguly	18,575
5	Rohit Sharma	18,225

Sri Lanka

Rank	Player	Total Runs
1	Kumar Sangakkara	28,016
2	Mahela Jayawardene	25,957
3	Sanath Jayasuriya	21,032

Australia

Rank	Player	Total Runs
1	Ricky Ponting	27,483
2	Steve Smith	20,014
3	David Warner	18,995

Pakistan

Rank	Player	Total Runs
1	Younis Khan	17,790
2	Inzamam-ul-Haq	17,055
3	Babar Azam	13,756

Milestone Comparison: Top Three Run-Scorers

Milestone	Sachin Tendulkar	Virat Kohli	Kumar Sangakkara
Career Total	34,357	28,068	28,016
Test Runs	15,921	9,380	12,400
ODI Runs	18,426	14,570	14,234
T20I Runs	10	4,118	1,382
Total Centuries	100	82	63
Career Span	24 years	17 years	15 years

Conclusion:

International run-scoring records document sustained excellence across cricket’s three formats.

Sachin Tendulkar’s 34,357 runs established the career benchmark standard over 24 years.

Virat Kohli’s achievement of surpassing Kumar Sangakkara in January 2026 demonstrates consistent performance across 17 years.

The 52-run margin separating second and third positions reflects decades of international competition.

Key factors in high run accumulation:

Multi-format participation across 15+ years
Consistent performance against diverse opposition
Adaptation to evolving playing conditions
Sustained fitness and form maintenance
Technical proficiency across formats

Active players, including Virat Kohli, Joe Root, and Rohit Sharma, continue adding to their career totals.

Historical records provide benchmarks for evaluating current achievements against established standards set by previous generations.

More Records Guide:

Karan

Administrator

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