Top 10 active batsmen with most runs in ODI cricket

One Day International cricket is often cited as a format titled heavily in favour of the batsmen. Batting friendly flat strips, fast outfields, unorthodox shot-making and defensive field placings make the format a batsman’s paradise. Over the years, we have seen some batting maestros mesmerize the cricketing fraternity with their exquisite stroke play. Batting legends like Sachin, Lara, Ponting, Jayasuriya and AB De Villiers took batting to another level and entertained crowds with their scintillating shot making.

Consistency in run scoring with an impressive strike rate consistency across different batting conditions is the standard benchmark of judging a batsman’s true prowess with the willow. Many batsmen donned the national colours in ODI cricket but only a select few could go the distance and establish themselves in the league of all-time greats. 'Master Blaster' Sachin Tendulkar has cemented his spot as the all-time leading ODI run-getter with over 18000 runs. His contemporaries like Kumara Sangakarra, Ricky Ponting and Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene round up the all-time top five list of run-getters. Among the current crop of international batsmen; Virat Kohli, Hashim Amla, Kane Williamson, David Warner, Joe Root and Rohit Sharma are hailed as the most prolific run scorers in the limited overs format. Interestingly, there are some experienced campaigners like Ross Taylor, Chris Gayle, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Shoaib Malik, Upul Tharanga and Mohammad Hafeez who are still going strong and giving the younger lot a run for their money with their prodigious run scoring ability.

So it would be interesting to compile a list of top ten active batsmen with the most number of runs in ODI cricket.

Note: For my selection, I have only considered those batsmen who are actively playing ODI cricket for their respective nations and are regularly picked up in the playing eleven of their one-day sides.

Before we run through our list, a look at the active international batsmen who have scored 5000 or more runs in ODI cricket

New Zealand - Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson

Bangladesh - Shakib Al Hassan, Mushfiqur Rehman

India - Suresh Raina

Pakistan - Mohammad Hafeez

Sri Lanka - Angelo Matthews

West Indies - Marlon Samuels

Zimbabwe - Brendon Taylor, Hamilton Mazakadza

Note - Yuvraj Singh with 8701 ODI runs has not been picked to represent India in ODI's in 2018, hence not considered for selection

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#10 Tamim Iqbal

Tamim Iqbal

Tamim Iqbal has certainly been the best ODI batsman to come out of Bangladesh. Iqbal is an aggressive opener who likes to play his shots in the power plays and gets his side off to some breezy starts. He is known for his flamboyant offside play and is one of the hardest hitters of the red cherry.

Iqbal has been a prolific run scorer at the top of the order and contributed handsomely to make Bangladesh a formidable challenger in ODI cricket. With over 6000 ODI runs, Iqbal has been his nation’s leading run scorer in the limited overs format.

ODI Record

Matches 183 Runs 6307 Avg 36.27 100s

#9 Eoin Morgan

Eoin Morgan

Eoin Morgan is one of the most middle order batsmen in one-day international cricket. Morgan with his belligerent strokeplay has been a dangerous customer with the willow. Morgan scores his runs at the brisk pace and provides the English with some fireworks down the order. Morgan is pretty innovative with his trademark sweeps and switch hits.

With over 6000 runs, the seasoned batsman is England’s leading run scorer in ODI cricket by quite a fair distance. Along with Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes, Morgan shall be key to England’s middle order fortunes in the 2019 Cricket World Cup at home.

ODI Record

Matches 208 Runs 6362 Avg 37.64 100s 11

#8 Upul Tharanga

Upul Tharanga

Upul Tharanga has been a consistent run-getter for Sri Lanka in ODI cricket. Post the retirement of Sanath Jayasuriya and Tillakaratne Dilshan, the left-hander has been his nation’s front line opener. Tharanga is more of a run accumulator rather than a dasher. He scores his runs at a brisk pace and generally converts his knocks into big hundreds. His compact technique and sound temperament help him construct an innings and play meaningful knocks for his side. With a relatively inexperienced batting lineup, Sri Lanka would look forward to their experienced campaigner to steady the ship in the World Cup at England next year.

ODI Record

Matches 230 Runs 6936 Avg 34.33 100s 15

#7 Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma is undoubtedly one of the best openers in ODI cricket at the moment. The elegant Indian opener is an outright match-winner with his clinical shot making. Enormously talented, Rohit has proved his pedigree as a world-class opener with some mammoth double tons in the shorter format of the game. When the 'Hitman' is on full song, he makes batting look rather effortless.

Rohit has been superbly consistent as an opener and forged a lethal opening duo with Shikhar Dhawan in ODIs. With 7000 ODI runs at a staggering average of 46, Rohit has established himself as one of India’s best ever ODI openers behind Sachin, Sehwag and Ganguly.

ODI Record

Matches 187 Runs 7017 Avg 46.16 100s 19

#6 Shoaib Malik

Shoaib Malik

Shoaib Malik has been Pakistan’s most underrated ODI cricketers. The experienced all-rounder has been a consistent performer with both bat and ball for over almost two decades. Malik is an aggressive lower middle order batsman who has produced some whirlwind cameos down the order to win matches for his nation. Malik can also play the waiting game and help build an innings if the situation demands so.

Malik with his invaluable experience shall be an important member of Pakistan's squad for the 2019 World Cup in England. With over 7000 runs under his belt, he has fared considerably well as a lower middle order batsman in ODI cricket.

ODI Record

Matches 270 Runs 7196 Avg 35.62 100s 9

#5 Ross Taylor

Ross Taylor

Ross Taylor has been one of New Zealand’s most accomplished batsman in ODI cricket. The middle-order batsman has been Kiwis batting mainstay for more than a decade. Taylor packs a punch with his aggressive stroke making and destructive hitting. He has been a consistent run-getter for the Black Caps and is only second behind Stephen Fleming in the list of highest run scorers for NZ in ODIs. Taylor also has scored the maximum tons for his nation in ODIs. Taylor along with Kane Williamson provides solidity to the New Zealand batting order in the limited-overs arena.

ODI Record

Matches 204 Runs 7267 Avg 46.28 100s 19

#4 Hashim Amla

Hashim Amla

Hashim Amla has been South Africa’s most dependable opener in the shorter format of the game. The stylish stroke-maker has been a consistent run-getter for the Proteas. Amla’s wristy stroke-making makes him a delight to watch. Over the last decade, Amla has been a workhorse at the top of the order scoring heaps of runs with phenomenal consistency.

Amla has forged with a formidable opening duo with Quinton De Cock to provide the initial impetus and stability up the order. Amla has generally been quicker than most of his contemporaries in getting to most of the ODI milestones.

ODI Record

Matches 169 Runs 7696 Avg 49.65 100s 26

#3 Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle

West Indies' destructive opening batsman Chris Gayle is the second highest run scorer among active batsman in ODIs. Gayle is also his nation’s second highest ODI run-getter behind the legendary Brian Lara. The tall and well-built opener has racked up over 9700 runs in his stellar career and is inching closer to the 10000 run mark.

The Jamaican powerhouse's runs have come at an impressive strike rate of 85. Gayle holds the record for the maximum tons by a West Indian batsman in ODIs. With his belligerent hitting ability, it does not come as a big surprise that Gayle stands atop the list of the most sixes hit by a West Indian batsman.

ODI Record

Matches 284 Runs 9727 Avg 37.12 100s 23

#2 Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli is arguably the best ODI batsman in world cricket at the moment. Kohli has been on a record-breaking spree courtesy his prolific form with the willow over the last few seasons. The Indian skipper has been India's batting lynch-pin and won numerous games for India. Kohli has one of the best conversion ratios and has a penchant to score breathtaking centuries while chasing daunting targets. With over 9700 ODI runs in his kitty, the prolific run scorer is a tad short of the 10000 run milestone.

Kohli’s phenomenal ODI average of 58 with a 90 plus strike rate is a testimony to his batting prowess in the shorter format of the game. The Indian run-scoring machine is destined to reach loftier heights and is likely to end up as one of the highest run-getters in ODI cricket.

ODI Record

Matches 211 Runs 9779 Avg 58.20 100s 35

#1 MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni

The hard-hitting wicket-keeper batsman is the highest run scorer among active batsman in ODI cricket. MS Dhoni is one among the select few batting heavyweights to have scaled the 10000 run ODI milestone. He is the third Indian batsman after Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid to join the elite 10000 ODI-run club.

Dhoni is arguably hailed as the best finisher in the game courtesy his power-packed knocks down the order for India. Dhoni also holds the record for the most sixes by an Indian batsman in ODI cricket. Going into the 2019 World Cup at England, Dhoni will be an integral weapon in the Indian batting line-up. At the ripe old age of 38, ‘Mahi’ still remains a force to reckon with in ODI cricket.

ODI Record

Matches 325 Runs 10079 Avg 50.90 100s 10