In an era defined by fierce competition and fleeting records, World’s cricket has firmly etched their name into the annals of cricketing history. With a blend of elegance and consistency, Virat has rewired the benchmarks of batting excellence, leading India’s charge across all formats and inspiring a new generation of cricketers to dream big on the global stage:
Virat Kohli:
Run machine Virat Kohli reached 22,000 international runs faster than any other batsman, doing so in just 462 innings. He hit this mark with an 89-run innings in the second ODI against Australia in Sydney on November 29, 2020. He became the eighth player overall and the third Indian to join the club, after Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. At that time, his runs were split as 7,240 in Tests, 12,834 in ODIs, and 2,794 in T20Is.
Kohli’s batting average stood at an outstanding 56.15, well above 50 and higher than Jacques Kallis’s 49.10 among players with 22,000 runs. He had scored 70 centuries in those 462 innings. In ODIs alone, he had 11,977 runs in 241 innings with a 59.29 average.
Sachin Tendulkar:
Sachin Tendulkar hit 22,000 international runs in 493 innings, second only to Virat Kohli, who did it faster in 462 innings. This shows Tendulkar’s amazing consistency in all cricket formats from 1989 to 2013. He still holds the record for most international runs ever, 34,357 in 664 matches. In Tests, he scored 15,921 runs across 200 games with a 53.78 average and 51 centuries. In ODIs, he made 18,426 runs in 463 matches at 44.83 average, with a record 49 centuries.
Joe Root:
Joe Root recently hit a big milestone: he became the third-fastest player to score 22,000 international runs. This happened during the Ashes 2025-26 series against Australia. He’s played 380 international matches overall, with exactly 22,000 runs at an average of about 50. Root has 59 centuries and 114 half-centuries to his name, and his top score is 262 runs, proof he shines in tough games.
- In 162 test matches and 296 innings, he scored 13,777 runs at an average of 50.83, with 40 centuries and 66 fifties.
- Across 186 ODI matches and 175 innings, he made 7,330 runs at 48.54 average, including 19 centuries and 43 fifties (best: 166*).
- In 32 T20I matches and 30 innings, he added 893 runs at 35.72 average, with 5 fifties (best: 90*).
Brian Lara:
Brian Lara reached 22,000 international runs in 511 innings, placing him fourth in this list. Lara scored 22,358 runs across Tests and ODIs in 430 matches, including 53 centuries, showcasing his dominance as a West Indies legend. His Test record stands at 11,953 runs in 232 innings at an average of 52.88, with a highest of 400* and 34 centuries. In ODIs, he scored 10,405 runs in 299 matches at 40.48, highlighted by 19 centuries and a top score of 169. He owns special records, like the highest Test score of 400 not out. Lara switched easily between formats, with a strong ODI strike rate of 79.51.
Also Read: Top Indian Batsmen With Most ODI Runs in 2025
Ricky Ponting:
Ricky Ponting is the 5th fastest player to reach 22,000 international runs. He hit this mark in just 514 innings. One of cricket’s all-time great batsmen, Ponting scored 27,483 runs in all formats. In Tests, he made 13,818 runs at an average of 51.85, with 41 centuries. In ODIs, he scored 13,704 runs at 42.04, including 30 centuries. As captain, Ponting led Australia to a record 220 wins in 324 matches, the most in international cricket history. When he retired, he was the second-highest run-scorer ever (behind Sachin Tendulkar) and had 71 international centuries.
This feat underscores Kohli’s consistency across formats, with his average exceeding 50 at the time.