Top run scorers in World Cups (1975-2011)

The World Cup is the biggest event in every sport and it isn’t any less in Cricket. A lot of players have made their name at the biggest stage and the people who make the most runs for their teams lauded like heroes back in their home nation.Unsurprisingly, Sachin Tendulkar has the most runs at World Cups, having played in six editions of the prestigious tournament. However, rather surprisingly, only two players, who were the highest scorers of the tournament, ended up lifting the trophy in that edition.With the 2015 edition not far away, we take a look at the highest run scorers of each edition from the World Cup:

#1 1975 - Glenn Turner - 333 runs

Glenn Turner

The 1975 Cricket World Cup (officially called the Prudential Cup) was the first edition of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Cricket World Cup. It was held from 7^th to 21^st June 1975 in England. The tournament was sponsored by Prudential Assurance Company and had 8 participating countries.

Glenn Turner from New Zealand was the topscorer of the tournament scoring a mammoth 333 runs in his 4 matches. But, New Zealand lost its semi-final against eventual Champions, West Indies, by 5 wickets at Lord’s, London, England.

#2 1979 - Gordan Greenidge - 253 runs

Gordon Greenidge

The 1979 Cricket World Cup (Prudential World Cup, 1979) was the second edition of the tournament and was won by the West Indies. It was held from 9^th to 23^rd June 1979 in England. The format had remained unchanged from 1975. Eight countries participated in the event.

Gordan Greenidge from West Indies scored 253 runs helping West Indies make it two out of two at World Cups. He also became the first batsman to score most runs at the World Cup in a winning cause at the tournament.

#3 1983 - David Gower - 384 runs

David Gower

The 1983 ICC Cricket World Cup was the third edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup tournament. It was held from 9^th June to 25^th June 1983 in England and was won by India. Eight countries participated in the event.

David Gower from England scored a staggering 384 runs but, England lost to eventual winners India by 6 wickets in the semi-final at Old Trafford, Manchester.

#4 1987 - Graham Gooch - 471 runs

Graham Gooch

The 1987 Cricket World Cup (also known as the Reliance World Cup) was the fourth edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup tournament. It was held from 8^th October to 8^th November, 1987 in India and Pakistan. It was the first World Cup to be held outside England.

Graham Gooch from England scored 471 runs. However, he couldn’t help England suffering defeat at the hands of Australia by 7 runs in the final at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India.

#5 1992 - Martin Crowe - 456 runs

Martin Crowe

The 1992 Cricket World Cup was the fifth staging of the Cricket World Cup, organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC). It was held in Australia and New Zealand from 22^nd February to 25^th March, 1992.

Pakistan beat England in the finals to win their first-ever World Cup.

However, the local crowd had little to cheer as Martin Crowe from New Zealand scored the most runs at the tournament – 456 runs. New Zealand lost to Champions Pakistan at Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand in the semi-final.

#6 1996 - Sachin Tendulkar - 523 runs

Sachin Tendulkar

The 1996 Cricket World Cup, also called the Wills World Cup after its official sponsors, ITC's Wills brand, was the sixth Cricket World Cup organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC). It was the second World Cup to be hosted by Pakistan and India, and for the first time by Sri Lanka.

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar from India scored 523 runs to be adjudged as he top run-getter at the tournament. But, India lost to Sri Lanka, who won the tournament, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India in the semi-final.

#7 1999 - Rahul Dravid - 461 runs

Rahul Dravid

The 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup, the seventh edition of the tournament, was hosted primarily by England, with some games being hosted in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and the Netherlands. The tournament was won by Australia as they become the second country after West Indies to win two World Cups.

Rahul Dravid, known as ‘the Wall’, from India was the top-scorer of the tournament with 461 runs. India, however, were eliminated in the Super Six round of the tournament.

#8 2003 - Sachin Tendulkar - 673 runs

Sachin Tendulkar

The 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup was the eighth Cricket World Cup, organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC). It was co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya from 9^th February to 23^rd March 2003. This edition of the World Cup was the first to be played in the contintent of Africa.

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar became the first and only player to become the top scorer for the second time in a World Cup as he scored a record 673 runs in this edition. India lost to Australia in the final at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa.

#9 2007 - Matthew Hayden - 659 runs

Matthew Hayden

The 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup was the 9^th edition of the Cricket World Cup tournament that took place in the West Indies from 13^th March to 28^th April 2007.

There were a total of 51 matches played, three fewer than at the 2003 World Cup, despite participation of two more teams as compared to the previous edition.

Australian opener, Matthew Hayden scored a mammoth 659 runs to help Australia win the World Cup in the Caribbean. This would be the Aussies’ third World Cup victory.

#10 2011 - Tillakaratne Dilshan - 500 runs

Tillakaratne Dilshan

The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup was the tenth Cricket World Cup. It was co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

India won the tournament, defeating Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in the final in Mumbai, thus becoming the first country to win the Cricket World Cup final on home soil.

Tillakaratne Dilshan of Sri Lanka, however, had something to celebrate about after scoring 500 runs, he edged out Sachin Tendulkar (482) to become the tournament’s top scorer.