The Cricket World Cup has been the place where legends are made, milestones are achieved and performances destined to be remembered for a lifetime are carved out in the annals of the game. Being the highest run getter is one of the most cherished achievements of any World Cup. Legends of the game, such as Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli, have over the years proved their mettle all around the world.
In this blog, we take a look at the players with the most runs in World Cup history.
What Does “Most Runs in World Cup” Mean?
This can either mean the most runs scored by a player during:
- In a single edition of the ICC ODI World Cup
- Across multiple editions (career tally).
Most Runs in World Cup 2023
The ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 in India saw some of the most spectacular batting feats in the history of cricket. The star was Virat Kohli, who carried his team by rewriting the history books.
Highest Run Scorers World Cup 2023
| Rank | Player | Country | Matches | Runs | Average | 100s | 50s | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | India | 11 | 765 | 95.62 | 3 | 6 | 117 |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma | India | 11 | 597 | 54.27 | 1 | 3 | 131 |
| 3 | Quinton de Kock | South Africa | 10 | 594 | 59.4 | 4 | 0 | 174 |
| 4 | Rachin Ravindra | New Zealand | 10 | 578 | 64.22 | 3 | 2 | 123* |
| 5 | Daryl Mitchell | New Zealand | 9 | 552 | 69 | 2 | 2 | 134 |
| 6 | David Warner | Australia | 11 | 535 | 48.63 | 2 | 2 | 163 |
| 7 | Shreyas Iyer | India | 11 | 530 | 66.25 | 2 | 3 | 128* |
| 8 | KL Rahul | India | 10 | 452 | 75.33 | 1 | 2 | 102 |
| 9 | Rassie van der Dussen | South Africa | 10 | 448 | 49.77 | 2 | 2 | 133 |
| 10 | Mitchell Marsh | Australia | 10 | 441 | 49 | 2 | 1 | 177* |
Player Highlights
1) Virat Kohli (India) – 765 runs
Kohli was India’s linchpin, holding the innings together with extraordinary regularity. His three centuries and six half-centuries were instrumental in India’s dominance in the group stage. He shattered Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most runs in a single World Cup, scoring 765 runs.
2) Rohit Sharma (India) – 597 runs
India’s captain showed the way by giving the team aggressive starts in the powerplay. His 131 runs against Afghanistan and aggressive stroke-making have set the tone for India’s overall dominance. He also struck the most sixes (31) in the tournament.
3) Quinton de Kock (South Africa) – 594 runs
De Kock was South Africa’s game-changer, with four centuries in the group stage. His counterattacking 174 against Bangladesh was among the highlights of the 2023 World Cup.
4) Rachin Ravindra (New Zealand) – 578 runs
The tournament’s genuine rising star, Rachin Ravindra, became the highest run scorer in his debut World Cup in the tournament’s history. He hit three hundreds, including a dazzling 123* against England in the first match.
5) Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand) – 552 runs
For New Zealand, Mitchell was the middle-order rock. His serene nature and power to up the ante in the death over made him one of the dependable batters. His 134 not out in a semifinal against India was his standout knock.
6) David Warner (Australia) with 535 runs
The aggressive Australian opener mixed brute power with his wide range of experience, scoring two centuries in the tournament. He made Australians proud and helped his nation win the World Cup Final.
7) Shreyas Iyer (India) – 530 runs
Iyer bloomed in the middle-order and hit a couple of centuries and the highest of 128*. The way he tackled the spin and smashed big sixes was the need of the hour for India in the knockouts.
8) KL Rahul (India) – 452 runs
Rahul assumed the role of the consolidator throughout, rebuilding amid early breakthroughs. His 102* against the Netherlands was the perfect example of controlled, anchor-style batting. His average of 75.33 was a reflection of his consistency.
9) Rassie van der Dussen (South Africa): 448 runs
Rassie was one of South Africa’s most reliable top-order batters in this event with two hundreds. His 133 against New Zealand was a splendid exhibition of stroke-making in pressure situations.
10) Mitchell Marsh (Australia) – 441 runs
Marsh added explosive power-hitting to Australia’s top order. He scored 177 not out against Bangladesh, which was one of the top scores in the tournament, and indicated that he, too, could dominate bowling sides on his day.
Highlights of World Cup 2023
- Virat Kohli became the highest run scorer of World Cup 2023 (765 runs), he took the distinction away from Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 673 runs during the 2003 edition.
- Glenn Maxwell slams record-breaking 201 from 136 balls off Afghanistan, the second-highest ever individual score in the tournament history.
- Rachin Ravindra finished as the leading run-scorer in his debut World Cup in the tournament’s history with 578 runs.
- Rohit Sharma hit the most sixes – 31.
All-Time Most Runs in World Cup History
In terms of all-time career World Cup runs, the following players are head and shoulders above the rest:
Top 10 Leading Run-Scorers in World Cup History
| Rank | Player | Country | Runs | Matches | Innings | Hundreds | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 2278 | 45 | 44 | 6 | 1992–2011 |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | India | 1795 | 37 | 37 | 5 | 2011–2023 |
| 3 | Ricky Ponting | Australia | 1743 | 46 | 42 | 5 | 1996–2011 |
| 4 | Rohit Sharma | India | 1575 | 28 | 28 | 7 | 2015–2023 |
| 5 | Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 1532 | 37 | 35 | 5 | 2003–2015 |
| 6 | David Warner | Australia | 1527 | 29 | 29 | 6 | 2015–2023 |
| 7 | Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 1332 | 36 | 36 | 2 | 2007–2023 |
| 8 | Brian Lara | West Indies | 1225 | 34 | 33 | 2 | 1992–2007 |
| 9 | AB de Villiers | South Africa | 1207 | 23 | 22 | 4 | 2007–2015 |
| 10 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 1186 | 35 | 34 | 2 | 2003–2019 |
Key Insights:
- Sachin Tendulkar is the highest scorer of all time with 2278 runs, as spectacular a record as there is, despite being over ten years old now.
- Rohit Sharma is leading the hundred-run race (7) in World Cups.
- Virat Kohli is second in the list with 1795 and could threaten Tendulkar’s record if he plays the 2027 World Cup.
Top Run Scorers in Every World Cup Edition (1975–2023)
Each World Cup has given the game a shining batter. Here are the winners of the Golden Bat:
| Year | Player | Country | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Glenn Turner | New Zealand | 333 |
| 1979 | Gordon Greenidge | West Indies | 253 |
| 1983 | David Gower | England | 384 |
| 1987 | Graham Gooch | England | 471 |
| 1992 | Martin Crowe | New Zealand | 456 |
| 1996 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 523 |
| 1999 | Rahul Dravid | India | 461 |
| 2003 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 673 |
| 2007 | Matthew Hayden | Australia | 659 |
| 2011 | Tillakaratne Dilshan | Sri Lanka | 500 |
| 2015 | Martin Guptill | New Zealand | 547 |
| 2019 | Rohit Sharma | India | 648 |
| 2023 | Virat Kohli | India | 765 |
Fun Fact: The only player to finish as the highest scorer in the World Cup for two editions (1996 & 2003) is Sachin Tendulkar.
Memorable “Most Runs in World Cup” Related Cricket World Cup Statistics
- Virat Kohli (2023): 765 runs, shattering a 20-year-old record.
- Rohit Sharma (2019): 648 runs with 5 centuries, the highest in any one edition.
- Martin Guptill (2015): Produced one of the best innings in World Cup History – 237 vs West Indies.
- Matthew Hayden (2007): Scorched 659 runs in the 2007 edition.
Final Thoughts
The fight for the highest number of runs in the World Cup has always been an exhibition of class, composure, and stability. From the unprecedented greatness of Sachin Tendulkar to the modern-day brilliance of Virat Kohli, the record books are still changing.
FAQs
1. Who has made the most runs in World Cup history?
Ans: Sachin Tendulkar – 2278 runs he scored these runs from 1992-2011.
2. Who is the highest run scorer in the World Cup 2023?
Ans: Virat Kohli, 765 runs in 11 matches – the most in any World Cup.
3. Who has scored the most by an Indian in the World Cup?
Ans: Sachin Tendulkar (2278 runs), Virat Kohli (1795 runs) and Rohit Sharma (1575 runs).
4. Which cricketer has the most hundreds in the World Cup?
Ans: Rohit Sharma with 7 hundreds in the 2015, 2019 and 2023 editions.
5. What is the highest score by an individual in World Cup history?
Ans: Martin Guptill (New Zealand) – 237 Vs West Indies in the 2015 edition.
6. Who was the first cricketer to score a hundred in the World Cup?
Ans: Dennis Amiss of England scored the first ever hundred in World Cup history in the first 1975 edition.
7. Who hit the most sixes in the World Cup?
Ans: Rohit Sharma hit the most sixes in the World Cup – 31 sixes.
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