All these five highest run-getters in ODI World Cup history have ruled the game of cricket and contributed the most to their respective cricket teams. ODI World Cups are exciting as all the top cricket teams compete for the coveted trophy. Batters play a major rule.
Plus, the ODI World Cup comes every four years, so there is a sense of anticipation and excitement among players and fans. This high-octane event is also a great opportunity for online cricket betting individuals, as the rewards are expected to be on the higher side.
Many legendary batters and bowlers have left their mark on World Cup tournaments before. In this article, let us look at the top five highest run-getters in the history of the ODI World Cup.
Five Highest Run-getters in the ODI World Cup History
Though there are many batters who contributed significantly to their teams, here is a list of Top five highest run-getters in the ODI world cup history:
No. 1 – Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 2278 runs
Who else than the master himself! Sachin Tendulkar represented team India in six cricket world cups, where he played 45 matches. He scored 2278 runs at an astonishing 56.95 average and an impressive 88.98 strike rate.
Sachin Tendulkar was named player of the tournament for the 2003 ODI World Cup. He also won the World Cup with team India in 2011.
Sachin Tendulkar’s Overall World Cup Record
The following table shows the overall World Cup record of Sachin Tendulkar:
| Matches | Runs | Highest | Average | Strike Rate |
| 45 | 2278 | 152 | 56.95 | 88.98 |
No. 2 – Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 1743 runs
Ricky Ponting has dominated the ODI World Cup stage both as a batter and a captain. In the five ODI World Cups that he represented Australia in, he played 46 matches and scored 1743 runs.
As a player, Ricky Ponting won three ODI World Cups; he captained Australia in two of them.
Ricky Ponting Overall World Cup Record
The following table shows the overall World Cup record of Ricky Ponting:
| Matches | Runs | Highest | Average | Strike Rate |
| 46 | 1743 | 140* | 45.86 | 79.95 |
No. 3 – K Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 1532 runs
One of the elegant southpaws, Kumar Sangakkara graced the ODI World Cup with his classy shots. He represented Sri Lanka in four ODI World Cups, where he managed to score 1532 runs in just 37 matches.
Sangakkara also holds the record for scoring four consecutive hundreds in the World Cup, a feat that he achieved in the ODI World Cup.
Kumar Sangakkara Overall World Cup Record
The following table shows the overall World Cup record of Kumar Sangakkara:
| Matches | Runs | Highest | Average | Strike Rate |
| 37 | 1532 | 124 | 56.74 | 86.55 |
No. 4 – Brian Lara (West Indies) – 1225 runs
Often rated as high as Sachin Tendulkar, the prince of Trinidad was perhaps one of the most beautiful batters to watch. He represented the West Indies in five ODI World Cups, where he managed to score 1225 runs in 34 matches.
Brian Lara Overall World Cup Record
The following table shows the overall World Cup record of Brian Lara:
| Matches | Runs | Highest | Average | Strike Rate |
| 34 | 1225 | 116 | 42.24 | 86.26 |
No. 5 – ABD (South Africa) – 1207 runs
AB de Villiers dominated the ODI World Cup as he smashed bowlers all around the park at a strike-rate of 117.29. He represented South Africa in three World Cups, scoring 1207 runs at an exceptional 63.52 average.
AB de Villiers Overall World Cup Record
The following table shows the overall World Cup record of Brian Lara:
| Matches | Runs | Highest | Average | Strike Rate |
| 23 | 1207 | 162* | 63.52 | 117.29 |
Expected Top Run-getters in the ODI World Cup 2023
There are many talented batters representing their respective countries in the ODI World Cup 2023. Following are some batters who could score the maximum runs in the 2023 ODI World Cup:
- Virat Kohli
- Shubman Gill
- Jos Buttler
- Babar Azam
- David Warner
Concluding Thoughts
All the previous editions of the ODI World Cup have seen some talented batters. From Viv Richards to Virat Kohli, we have seen a range of batters grace the biggest stage in cricket. In the 2023 ODI World Cup, we are all set to see a great mixture of young and experienced batters who will try to score more and ensure that their team lifts the trophy.