ODI: One-day cricket is often known as a mixture of the Test and T20 formats. A player needs to be ready for various challenges in a 50-over game. Especially the batters, who should know how to build up the innings and then unleash them to score quick runs. That is how a player can be successful in this format.
We have seen many players start their career at a high but later on they couldn’t maintain the consistency. And who went on to perform consistently and become the legend of the game? In this article, we will discuss such players who have scored runs consistently and have become the fastest to score 7000 career runs in ODI cricket. So let’s check.
5. Rohit Sharma (India) – 181 innings
The current Indian captain, Rohit Sharma, is the fifth fastest batter on this list. Rohit started his career as a middle-order batsman. But later on, MS Dhoni promoted him to open the innings and after that, things changed. Rohit started to score tonnes of runs and play big innings. Having made his ODI debut in June 2007 against Ireland, Rohit took 181 innings to complete 7000 ODI runs. So far, he has scored 9376 runs in 223 innings, with 29 centuries and 45 half-centuries.
4. Sourav Ganguly (India) – 174 innings
Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly comes in fourth place. The southpaw made his ODI debut in January 1992 against West Indies at Brisbane, and it took him 174 innings to reach 7000 ODI runs. He completed 6000 ODI runs in 147 innings and reached the next 1000 runs in 27 innings. At the time of his retirement, Ganguly had made 11363 runs in 300 innings at an average of 41.02 with 22 centuries and 72 half-centuries.
3. AB de Villiers (South Africa) – 166 innings
Former South African captain AB de Villiers is the third fastest player to complete 7000 ODI runs. De Villiers made his ODI debut against England in October 2003 and completed 6000 ODI runs in 147 innings. Then, it took him only 19 innings to complete the next 1000 runs. He reached the 7000-run mark in 166 innings. De Villiers ended up with 9577 runs in 218 innings, with 25 centuries and 53 half-centuries.
2. Virat Kohli (India) – 161 innings
Former Indian captain Virat Kohli started his career pretty slowly, but then he became a revolution in his career. In particular, in ODIs, there was no one near him. He reached 6000 ODI runs in 136 innings and completed 7000 in 161 innings to become the second fastest player to do so. So far, Virat has scored 12344 runs in 253 innings, at an incredible average of 57.68, with 43 centuries and 64 half-centuries.
1. Hashim Amla (South Africa) – 150 innings
There is only one man in history who holds the record of scoring the fastest 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, and 7000 ODI runs in his career. He is none other than former South African captain Hashim Amla, who was known as the run machine for his team. Amla started his ODI career in March 2008 against Bangladesh, and it took him just 150 innings to reach the 7000-run milestone. He ended up with 8113 runs in 178 innings, with 27 centuries and 39 half-centuries.
List of Fastest 7000 Runs in ODI Cricket
| Player | Against | Match Date | Debut | Time | Mts | Inns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hashim Amla (SA) | England | 29 May 2017 | 9 Mar 2008 | 9y 81d | 153 | 150 |
| Virat Kohli (IND) | Australia | 17 Jan 2016 | 18 Aug 2008 | 7y 152d | 169 | 161 |
| AB de Villiers (SA) | Australia | 14 Nov 2014 | 2 Feb 2005 | 9y 285d | 172 | 166 |
| Sourav Ganguly (IND) | Kenya | 24 Oct 2001 | 11 Jan 1992 | 9y 286d | 180 | 174 |
| Rohit Sharma (IND) | Pakistan | 23 Sep 2018 | 23 Jun 2007 | 11y 92d | 187 | 181 |
| Brain Lara (WI) | South Africa | 6 May 2001 | 9 Nov 1990 | 10y 178d | 187 | 183 |
| Martin Guptill (NZ) | Netherlands | 4 Apr 2022 | 10 Jan 2009 | 13y 84d | 189 | 186 |
| Desmond Haynes (WI) | India | 14 Dec 1991 | 22 Feb 1978 | 13y 295d | 188 | 187 |
| Jacques Kallis (SA) | Sri Lanka | 20 Aug 2004 | 9 Jan 1996 | 8y 224d | 197 | 188 |
| Rozz Taylor (NZ) | England | 25 Feb 2018 | 1 Mar 2006 | 11y 361d | 202 | 188 |