As much as possible, each batter tries to contribute to his team’s cause by driving in runs. An example of this would be a batsman scoring a hundred or playing an inning that wins the game. Every batter dream of hitting a home run and leading his team to victory. One of the most coveted achievements for a cricket batter is to make a century on the international stage, and many have done so, some early in their careers and some late in their careers. Whether it’s the traditional five-day Test match, the shorter One-Day International, or the more recent Twenty-20 variant, these legends possessed the right mentality and skill to succeed in any facet of the game. In this article, the top batsmen by total international runs scored are discussed.
| Rank | Runs | Inn. | Player | Team | Time- Period |
| 1 | 18,426 | 452 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 1989–2012 |
| 2 | 14,234 | 404 | Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 2000–2015 |
| 3 | 13,704 | 365 | Ricky Ponting | Australia | 1995–2012 |
| 4 | 13,430 | 433 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 1989–2011 |
| 5 | 12,650 | 418 | Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 1998–2015 |
Sachin Tendulkar
Batting average:48.29
Highest score: 200*
Sachin Tendulkar, a familiar face, tops the list with over 18,426 runs scored in the opening positions across all ODI formats.
Almost every batting record in One-Day International cricket has been broken by him, including the first double century in the format, scored against South Africa in 2010. As a complete batsman, Tendulkar could both defend and attack effectively, and he handled the pressure of the Indian public’s high expectations admirably.
Kumar Sangakkara
Batting average:41.98
Highest score: 169
Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka, who batted left-handed, was a sight to behold when he was on top of his game. From a breath-taking cover drive against the pacer to a bold assault on the spinners, he did it all. After 15 years in the sport, Sangakkara gave cricket fans all over the world and in Sri Lanka plenty to cheer about. Sangakkara appeared in 594 total international matches (including 404 one-day internationals) between the years 2000 and 2015. Sangakkara has scored 14,234 runs in his career, putting him in second place all-time among international batsmen. Even more impressively, Sangakkara scored 153 half-centuries and 63 hundreds during this time, making it the pinnacle of his international career. Sangakkara is next to a sporting great.
Ricky Ponting
Batting average:42.03
Highest score: 164
Ricky Ponting, the ex-captain of Australia, was a fantastic example of a strong and effective leader. In addition, he has scored more runs than anyone else in Australian cricket history. Ponting’s 17-year career as a player and captain in Australian cricket was marked by unprecedented success. Ponting played 560 times for Australia in international competition (365 innings). He also accumulated 13,704 runs at a 45.95 average in all formats. With 71 tons to his name, Ponting is second only to cricket’s god. Ponting has also been instrumental in the success of the Australian cricket team, which he has led to two ICC World Cup titles.
Sanath Jayasuriya
Batting average:32.36
Highest score: 189
Sanath Jayasuriya comes in at number two on this list. He was a pinch hitter for Sri Lanka when they won the 1996 Cricket World Cup, and he went on to become one of the greatest openers in the history of one-day international cricket. His famed assaults on bowlers were made possible, in large part, by his exceptional hand-eye coordination. He played a tornado of strokes all around the wicket, and they were legendary.
He concluded his career with more than 13,430 runs scored in ODIs while opening the batting order, which is not a bad return for a man who joined the format as a lower-order batsman who bowled left-arm spin.
Mahela Jayawardene
Batting average:33.37
Highest score: 144
After Sri Lanka’s loss to South Africa in the quarterfinals of the 2015 World Cup, Mahela Jayawardene called an end to his career with a total of 12650 runs scored in 418 games, including 19 centuries. Jayawardene led Sri Lanka to victory in the 2007 World Cup finals and played one of the most impressive innings in the 2011 World Cup final with 12650 runs scored in 418 games, including 19 centuries. Jayawardene led Sri Lanka to victory in the 2007 World Cup finals and played one of the most impressive innings in the 2011 World Cup final. Jayawardene, along with Kumar Sangakkara, was widely considered to be one of the best batsmen that Sri Lanka has ever produced. He announced his retirement after Sri Lanka was eliminated from the quarterfinals of the 2015 World Cup.
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