Sachin Tendulkar is the leading run-scorer in men's international cricket, finishing with 34,357 runs across Tests, ODIs and T20Is. Virat Kohli moved into second place in January 2026, passing Kumar Sangakkara with 28,068 runs at that point. His subsequent ODI appearances mean 28,068 is no longer his live total. ICC later reported that Kohli crossed 15,000 ODI runs in September 2026.
Most Runs in International Cricket
The table below covers the leading men's international run-scorers across Tests, ODIs and T20Is. For active players, totals can change after every international match, so the latest official statistics should be checked when the page is refreshed.
| Rank | Player | Team | International Runs | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 34,357 | 1989–2013 |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | India | 28,068+* | 2008–present |
| 3 | Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 28,016 | 2000–2015 |
| 4 | Ricky Ponting | Australia | 27,483 | 1995–2012 |
| 5 | Mahela Jayawardena | Sri Lanka | 25,957 | 1997–2015 |
*Kohli's 28,068 total is the ICC-published figure from 11 January 2026, when he moved into second place. He continued playing ODIs after that milestone, so this is a dated reference figure rather than a live total.
Who Has Scored the Most Runs in International Cricket?
Sachin Tendulkar holds the men's international run-scoring record with 34,357 runs. ICC records 15,921 Test runs, 18,426 ODI runs and 10 T20I runs, along with 100 international centuries.
Sachin Tendulkar Runs by Format
| Format | Matches | Runs | Centuries | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 200 | 15,921 | 51 | 248 |
| ODIs | 463 | 18,426 | 49 | 200 |
| T20Is | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Total | 664 | 34,357 | 100 | — |
ICC's player profile confirms Tendulkar's 15,921 Test runs, 18,426 ODI runs and 10 T20I runs. He is also the leading run-scorer in both Test and ODI cricket.
Most Test Runs
Tendulkar is the leading men's Test run-scorer with 15,921 runs from 200 Tests. Joe Root moved into second place in July 2025 after passing Ricky Ponting, and ICC reported him at 13,409 Test runs at that milestone. Because Root remains active, his exact current total should be refreshed before publishing a new figure.
| Player | Team | Test Runs |
|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | 15,921 |
| Joe Root | England | 13,409+* |
| Ricky Ponting | Australia | 13,378 |
| Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 13,289 |
| Rahul Dravid | India | 13,288 |
ICC confirms Tendulkar remains the leading Test run-scorer with 15,921 runs. Root was reported at 13,409 when he moved past Ponting in July 2025 and remains an active Test batter, so his live total changes over time.
Most ODI Runs
Sachin Tendulkar also holds the men's ODI run record with 18,426 runs. Virat Kohli reached 15,080 ODI runs in 315 matches by late September 2026, becoming only the second men's ODI batter after Tendulkar to cross 15,000. ICC also reported that he became the fastest player to 15,000 ODI runs and recorded his 55th ODI century in the same period.
| Player | Team | ODI Runs |
|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | 18,426 |
| Virat Kohli | India | 15,080 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 14,234 |
| Ricky Ponting | Australia | 13,704 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 13,430 |
Most T20I Runs
T20I batting records change quickly because several leading players remain active. Rather than publishing a potentially stale exact leaderboard, this page keeps the T20I section focused on the format and directs readers to the latest ICC statistics when an exact current ranking is required.
Virat Kohli and the International Run-Scoring Record
Kohli became the second-highest run-scorer in men's international cricket in January 2026, when his 93 against New Zealand took him past Kumar Sangakkara. Later in September 2026, he became only the second batter after Tendulkar to reach 15,000 ODI runs. ICC also reported his 55th ODI century in the same period.
Most International Centuries
Tendulkar finished with 100 international centuries: 51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs. ICC identifies him as the only men's international batter to reach 100 centuries.
International Runs vs IPL Runs
International runs are scored for a national team in recognised international matches. IPL runs are franchise-league statistics. They are separate records and should not be combined when comparing men's international run-scoring totals.
Men's and Women's International Run Records
Men's and women's international records are maintained as separate statistical categories. This page covers men's international cricket; a women's leaderboard should use women's Test, ODI and T20I records separately.
Important International Batting Records
- Most men's international runs: Sachin Tendulkar — 34,357.
- Most Test runs: Sachin Tendulkar — 15,921.
- Most ODI runs: Sachin Tendulkar — 18,426.
- Most international centuries: Sachin Tendulkar — 100.
- Virat Kohli ODI milestone: 15,080 runs from 315 matches in the ICC September 2026 record snapshot.
- Most runs in a single men's Cricket World Cup: Virat Kohli scored 765 in the 2023 edition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has scored the most runs in international cricket?
Sachin Tendulkar holds the men's international record with 34,357 runs across Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
Who is second in most international runs?
Virat Kohli moved into second place in January 2026, passing Kumar Sangakkara with 28,068 runs at that point.
Who has the most Test runs?
Sachin Tendulkar is the leading men's Test run-scorer with 15,921 runs.
Who has the most ODI runs?
Sachin Tendulkar is the leading men's ODI run-scorer with 18,426 runs.
How many international runs did Sachin Tendulkar score?
Sachin Tendulkar scored 34,357 international runs and 100 international centuries.
How many ODI runs has Virat Kohli scored?
ICC reported Kohli at 15,080 ODI runs in September 2026 after he crossed the 15,000-run milestone.
Are IPL runs included in international cricket records?
No. IPL runs are franchise-league statistics and are separate from international cricket records.
Related Cricket Guides
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- Most Centuries in International Cricket
- Cricket World Cup Winners List
- T20 World Cup Winners List
- Asia Cup Winners List
- IPL Winners List