Top 5 run-scorers in ODIs between 2007 and 2011 World Cups

Victory in the World Cup is considered the pinnacle of a cricketer's career and that is the reason why they play the game. Australian cricketers have been able to savour in the sweet scent of victory in World Cups more than any other side.

Australia claimed their fourth World Cup and also their third successive title in 2007 when Adam Gilchrist gave them victory in the final. Four years after that, MS Dhoni led India to their maiden World Cup in 28 years and quenched the thirst for a World Cup that had been plaguing the cricket-crazy nation.

In between those two World Cups, there were several stars who ruled the roost, when it came to batting. Surprisingly, Sachin Tendulkar doesn't even feature in the top five, nor does Virat Kohli, who only made his debut in 2008.

Let us take a look at the leading run-scorers in ODIs between the 2007 and 2011 World Cups.

(Numbers do not include the runs scored in the 2007 or 2011 World Cup)

#5 Kumar Sangakkara

Having made his debut at the start of the millennium, Kumar Sangakkara was in the peak of his powers during 2007 and 2011 and as the years went on, he was slowly getting better. Between the two World Cups, the southpaw scored 2,873 runs from 82 matches, a tally that is better than both Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting.

2008, in particular, was a breakthrough year for Sangakkara as he scored four centuries in the calendar year, his career-best until the final year of his ODI career, in which he scored five (including four consecutive centuries in the 2015 World Cup).

Along with Dilshan, Sangakkara helped set the tone at the top of the innings for Sri Lanka and went into the 2011 World Cup in great form as well.

#4 AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers hit five centuries in 2010, his career-best in a calendar year

Nudging just ahead of Kumar Sangakkara but with a much better average, strike rate and in fewer matches is AB de Villiers. No player also managed more ODI centuries between 2007 and 2011 World Cup than the Proteas batsman, who had eight, to go along with 17 fifties.

In total, AB de Villiers scored 2,880 runs at an average of almost 50 with eight centuries, 17 fifties and a strike rate of 92. Although his career-best ODI score is 176, which came against Bangladesh in 2017, his top score during that period was just 121.

With Amla just starting to make his mark on the side, this period was when AB took over the reins and started establishing himself as one of the best batsmen in the world. He was particularly impressive in 2010, when he scored five ODI centuries, his career-best tally of most tons in a calendar year along with 2015 when he scored five.

#3 Yuvraj Singh

No player scored more sixes during that period than Yuvraj Singh

Between helping India win the 2007 World T20 and the 2011 World Cup was arguably one of Yuvraj Singh's most productive phases. While those two tournaments offer a major milestone in his career, it was also a period in which he scored plenty of runs.

In fact, he was one of only three players to have scored over 3,000 runs between the 2007 and 2011 World Cups. In 99 matches, the southpaw finished with 3,141 runs at an average of 38 and strike rate of almost 90, which also included five centuries and 18 fifties.

His penchant for six-hitting was also evident during that period as he finished with the most sixes of any batsman. His tally of 82, five more than Chris Gayle, who had 77.

#2 Gautam Gambhir

Gambhir came into the World Cup in a rich vein of form

Lost amidst the sheer mountain of numbers amassed by Sachin Tendulkar, the fast-paced nature of Sehwag or the finishes of MS Dhoni and Yuvraj are many of Gautam Gambhir's knocks. Integral to the team's cause but never quite flashy or seen as noteworthy of a lot of attention.

Always flying under the radar, Gambhir played many crucial knocks for India in ODIs. While one of the most important came in the ICC World Cup 2011 final, it was between 2007 and 2011 World Cups that he was at his most effective.

No wonder then that he finished as the second-leading run-getter in that period. In total, he scored 3,200 runs from at an average of almost 45 and a strike rate of nearly 90. He also scored eight centuries, which along with AB was the most for any batsman in that period and also scored 19 fifties in 86 ODIs that he played.

#1 MS Dhoni

No batsman scored more fifties during that period than MS Dhoni

Incredible consistency and sheer volume of matches played helped MS Dhoni finish as the leading run-getter in ODIs between the 2007 World Cup that was won by Australia and the 2011 World Cup, which he lifted on home soil.

While no player apart from Dhoni played more than 100 ODIs during that period, the reason behind Dhoni's position at the top of this list is not just the sheer volume of matches but also the incredible consistency with which he scored runs. No batsman has more fifties or fifty-plus in that period.

In his 108 ODIs, Dhoni scored 3,821 runs at an average of 51.6 and a strike rate of almost 85. He scored five centuries during this period and went into the World Cup as the leading run-getter in ODIs in the four years leading up to the tournament. And while he had a largely forgettable tournament until the final, he made up for it with an unbeaten knock that helped India clinch the World Cup after 28 years.