Most runs in ODIs since Sachin Tendulkar's retirement

Sachin Tendulkar flourished in a generation when Test cricket was the most cherished format of the game.

After making his international debut in 1989, it took Sachin five years to make a successful transition from the longest format of the game to one-day cricket.

Tendulkar started opening in ODIs in 1994 and scored his first ton in the 50-over format. Since that 110 against Australia in Colombo, there was no looking back for the Master Blaster.

During an ODI career that lasted 22 years and 91 days, Tendulkar amassed 18,426 runs from 463 matches at an average of 44.83 and fell just one short of a half-century of hundreds in the limited-overs format.

He was also the first batsman to score an ODI double hundred (200*), a feat he managed against South Africa on 24th February 2010.

Although it's been more than four years since Tendulkar's retirement, his numbers still continue to be a benchmark when it comes to judging the capabilities of a modern-day ODI batsman.

Now, let's have a look at the top five men who are going full throttle to make a lasting impression in the 50-over format since the day Tendulkar decided to hang his boots from all forms of International cricket.

(The statistics included are between 16 Nov 2013 and 1 Dec 2017)

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#5 Kane Williamson

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has played 71 ODIs in the last four years and scored 3,411 runs at an average of 51.68.

Although the Kiwi batsman has been quite exceptional throughout his career, his exploits stood out in the year 2015.

Out of Williamson's six ODI tons, three came in 2015 as he became the first New Zealand batsman to score more than 2000 international runs in a calendar year.

In nine ICC World Cup 2015 matches, Williamson scored 234 runs at an average of 33.42.

Since Tendulkar's retirement, Williamson's highest ODI score has been the 123 that came against Pakistan at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Brendon McCullum's able successor led by example as he scored his fourth ODI century to help the visitors post 299 for five. Pakistan looked very much in contention before eventually finishing on 292 for eight as New Zealand pulled off a series-levelling win in December 2014 courtesy Williamson's brilliant knock.

#4 Quinton de Kock

De Kock has played 78 ODIs and scored 3,488 runs at an enviable strike rate of 96.38

In February 2017, Quinton de Kock became the fastest and youngest wicket-keeper to get to 3,000 ODI runs.

De Kock took 74 ODIs to reach the milestone, whereas his closest competitor Mahendra Singh Dhoni took 90 outings.

Since his ODI debut in January 2013, the 25-year-old has played 78 matches and has scored 3,488 runs at an enviable strike rate of 96.38.

The Protea, who shares the record of hitting three back to back ODI centuries with Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka, has scored 12 ODI tons since Tendulkar's retirement.

De Kock's highest ODI score of 178 off 113 deliveries came in 2016 against Australia at SuperSport Park, Centurion.

Needing 295 for victory, the hosts got home with 14.3 overs to spare as De Kock shattered the record books with his staggering innings.

Out of the 35 players in history to register 11 ODI tons, De Kock became the fastest to reach the milestone, in just 65 matches. He breezed past Hashim Amla, who had reached his 11th century in 66 ODIs.

#3 AB de Villiers

In 2015, De Villiers smashed the fastest ODI ton in just 31 balls

Former South Africa skipper AB de Villiers, who boasts of a mind-boggling strike rate of 119.09 in ODIs, has scored eight of the ten fastest centuries for his country.

The man, who scored 3505 runs in 72 ODIs, collected ten scores of hundred-plus since the day Sachin Tendulkar retired.

In 2015, De Villiers smashed the fastest ODI ton in just 31 balls on his way to 149 from 44 deliveries, against the West Indies at Johannesburg. Astonishingly, he came in to bat in the 39th over in this game.

Then, in February 2017, the 33-year-old became the fastest to score 9000 ODI runs, managing it in 205 innings, knocking off former India captain Sourav Ganguly's record of 228 innings. However, this record was broken by Virat Kohli on October 29.

Mr. 360 did not just stop there, he played another record-shattering innings to get to his highest ODI score of 176 off just 104 balls.

On October 18, de Villiers destroyed Bangladesh with an innings comprising 15 fours and 7 sixes as South Africa posted a mammoth target of 354 and eventually winning the match by 104 runs.

#2 Hashim Amla

Amla is the fastest to score 7000, 6000, 5000, 4000, 3000 and 2000 ODI runs

South Africa's run-machine Hashim Amla has snatched a number of ODI records from Virat Kohli in the last four years.

In October 2017, Amla shared a record partnership with Quinton de Kock to guide the hosts to a 10-wicket win against Bangladesh in Kimberley.

In the process, Amla brought up his 26th ODI ton and became the fastest to achieve the feat, in 154 innings, as the Indian skipper took 166 innings.

Amla is also the fastest to score 7000, 6000, 5000, 4000, 3000 and 2000 runs in 151, 123, 101, 81, 57 and 40 innings respectively.

In the last four years, Amla has played 79 ODIs and amassed 3647 runs with 15 hundred-plus scores.

The 34-year-old's highest ODI score also came during this period when he smashed 159 off 128 balls against Ireland at the Manuka Oval to help South Africa post 411/4, the highest total of the 2015 ICC World Cup.

Amla and Kohli are the joint-quickest to the landmark of 50 international centuries.

#1 Virat Kohli

In 2017, Virat Kohli has already scored 1,460 runs

In November, Virat Kohli reclaimed the numero uno spot in the ICC ODI Rankings for batsmen by recording 889 points, the best ever for an Indian.

In 2017, he’s already scored 1,460 runs, the highest-ever in a calendar year by a captain in the history of the format.

During the recently-concluded series against New Zealand, the 29-year-old scored two centuries in three matches and swelled the tally of his ODI tons to an astonishing 32, placing him behind only Tendulkar, who has 49.

During the final ODI against the Kiwis, last month, Kohli raced past AB de Villiers to become the fastest to 9,000 ODI runs.

Kohli achieved the landmark in his 194th innings, while de Villiers took 205 innings to reach the milestone.

Since Tendulkar's retirement, Kohli has scored 4,111 in 83 matches including 15 centuries and 19 fifties.

His highest score of 154* off just 134 deliveries came in 2016 at Mohali when Kohli and MS Dhoni combined forces to produce a 151-run stand as India chased down New Zealand's target of 286 with 10 balls to spare.