Top 5 fastest cricketers to 7000 ODI runs

In the 47-year history of ODI cricket, only 40 batsmen have breached the mark of 7000 career runs. Rohit Sharma, the Indian stand-in skipper, is the latest entrant to the 7000-run club. Accumulating 7000 runs in ODIs is indeed a great achievement and scoring it in less than 200 innings makes it much more special.

Here's a look at the fastest batsmen to 7000 ODI runs.

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#5 Rohit Sharma, 181 innings

Number 5 on this illustrious list is the ever-so-talented, Rohit Sharma. A decade ago when Rohit Sharma showed glimpses of brilliance through his dazzling stroke-play many people believed that he is made for bigger things. But soon after Rohit began frustrating his admirers by throwing away his wicket time and time again.

Then came a turning point in his career and he was promoted to open the innings for India. And he has not looked back ever since. Scoring ton after ton (rather double ton after double ton), he has cemented his place among the leading Indian openers of all-time. Rohit Sharma reached the 7000 runs mark against the arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asia Cup super 4 encounter, in only his 181st innings.

He also scored his 19th ODI ton in the process. Only 2 other Indian batsmen have reached the landmark quicker than Rohit who feature further on our list.

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#4 Sourav Ganguly, 174 innings

Sourav Ganguly during his massive 183 vs Sri Lanka in 1999 World Cup

The "God of the off-side", Sourav Ganguly, reached the 7000-run mark in his 174th innings. Known for his attacking stroke-play, especially against the spinners, he stitched together many memorable partnerships with Sachin Tendulkar that helped India to get the better of oppositions.

Ganguly ended his career with 11363 runs at an impressive average of 41 in 311 ODIs which included 22 tons.

#3 AB de Villiers, 166 innings

AB de Villiers used to score his runs at a breath-taking pace

Mr. 360 Degrees, AB de Villiers, is the next quickest to the mark who reached 7000 runs in only 166 innings. What's more special about this achievement is he scored most of his runs batting at the number 4 position as compared to some of the other players in this list who are openers.

De Villiers, who retired from international cricket recently, scored close to 9500 runs in his ODI career at a staggering average of 53.5 and an even more astonishing strike rate of 101.

#2 Virat Kohli, 161 innings

Virat Kohli is an absolute run-machine

It's no surprise that the Indian run-machine, Virat Kohli, ranks number 2 in this list. Virat Kohli needed just 161 innings to breach the 7000-run barrier. He reached this landmark in January 2016 playing against Australia at Melbourne.

Kohli currently has 9779 OD runs to his name at an astonishing average of 58 and looks like the only batsman capable of getting close to Sachin's tally of 18426 runs and 49 ODI tons.

#1 Hashim Amla, 150 innings

Hashim Amla has been silently accumulating runs

The number 1 name on this list may surprise a few but Hashim Amla has been quietly accumulating runs at the top for South Africa in ODI cricket for the past 5 years or so. Although Amla has been out of form off late, being the fastest to 7000 ODI runs is a testimony of how good a player he has been in white-ball cricket for the Proteas.

Amla currently stands at 7696 runs, scored at an impressive average of just under 50 and a strike rate of 89. He needs to score another 304 runs in 8 innings to beat Virat Kohli's mark of 175 innings to reach 8000 ODI runs.