ODI: One Day cricket is a format which comes with a lot of challenges for the players. A player needs a different type of skill to achieve success in ODI cricket. He needs the ability of a test cricketer and also the excellence of T20 cricket. Only then can he have success in this format of the game. But there are a few players that make the most of the opportunities they get.
Here in this article, we will discuss the list of players who became the fastest to score 2000 ODI runs in their career. This list includes some incredible players from different generations. For India, it was veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan who was the fastest but Recently Shubman Gill broke the record to become all time fastest to score 2000 runs. Let’s check the list.
Fastest 2000 Runs in ODI Cricket
| Player | Against | Match Date | Debut | Time | Mts | Inns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shubman Gill India | NZ | 22 Oct 2023 | 31 JAN 2019 | 4y 264d | 38 | 38 |
| Hashim Amla (SA) | India | 21 Jan 2011 | 9 Mar 2008 | 2y 318d | 41 | 40 |
| Zaheer Abbas (PAK) | India | 2 Oct 1983 | 31 Aug 1974 | 9y 32d | 45 | 45 |
| Kevin Pietersen (ENG) | West Indies | 21 Apr 2007 | 28 Nov 2004 | 2y 144d | 51 | 45 |
| Babar Azam (PAK) | Hong Kong | 16 Sep 2018 | 31 May 2015 | 3y 108d | 47 | 45 |
| Imam-ul-Haq (PAK) | England | 13 Jul 2021 | 18 Oct 2017 | 3y 268d | 46 | 46 |
| Jonathan Trott (ENG) | Australia | 7 Jul 2012 | 27 Aug 2009 | 2y 315d | 49 | 47 |
| Shai Hope (WI) | Bangladesh | 7 May 2019 | 16 Nov 2016 | 2y 172d | 51 | 47 |
| Viv Richards (WI) | India | 15 Jun 1983 | 7 Jun 1975 | 8y 8d | 49 | 48 |
| Shikhar Dhawan (IND) | Sri Lanka | 9 Nov 2014 | 20 Oct 2010 | 4y 20d | 49 | 48 |
| Gordon Greenidge (WI) | India | 13 Oct 1983 | 11 Jun 1975 | 8y 124d | 49 | 49 |
6. Imam-ul-Haq (Pakistan) – 46 innings
Pakistan star opener Imam ul Haq is 6th on the list. But the left-hander is actually the third fastest player to reach 2000 ODI runs in his career. Imam made his debut for Pakistan in an ODI in October 2017 against Sri Lanka. It took him only 46 innings to reach the 2000-run milestone. So far, he has scored 2528 runs in 54 innings at an average of 52.66 and a strike rate of 82.23. He has also scored nine centuries and 14 half-centuries.
5. Babar Azam (Pakistan) – 45 ininngs
There are three players who are the joint-third fastest to reach 2000 ODI runs. In third place is one of the best batters of this generation, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam. Babar is in the form of his life across all three formats, and it took him 45 innings to reach 2000 ODI runs. He made his ODI debut in May 2015 against Zimbabwe. So far, he has scored 4664 runs in 90 innings at an average of 59.79, including 17 centuries and 22 fifties.
4. Kevin Pietersen (England) – 45 innings
Another player who has scored 2000 ODI runs in 45 innings is the former England skipper, Kevin Pietersen. The former skipper was known for playing an aggressive brand of cricket and always loved dominating the opposition. Pietersen made his ODI debut in November 2004 against Zimbabwe at Harare. He played 136 ODIs in his career and scored 4440 runs at an average of 40.73, including 9 centuries and 25 half-centuries.
3. Zaheer Abbas (Pakistan) – 45 innings
Former Pakistan skipper Zaheer Abbas is another player who has reached the 2000 ODI run milestone in 45 innings. In fact, he was the fastest player to reach this milestone, but later, Amla broke his record. Abbas made his ODI debut against England in August 1974. He played 62 innings and scored 2572 runs at an average of 47.62, and he scored 7 centuries and 13 half-centuries in his career.
2. Hashim Amla (South Africa) – 40 innings
The second fastest player to reach the 2000 ODI run was the former South African skipper, Hashim Amla. He was one of the most prolific run-getters in international cricket across all formats. At the end of a superb career, it took him just 40 innings to reach 2000 ODI runs. Amla made his ODI debut in March 2008 against Bangladesh at Chattogram. Overall, in his career, he played 178 ODI innings and scored 8113 runs at an average of 49.46 with 27 centuries and 39 half-centuries.
1. Shubman Gill (India) – 38 Innings
Shubman gill broke 12 year old record and became the fastest to score 2000 runs in ODI. This record was broken in Cricket World cup 2023 against New Zealand.