There are three formats of cricket that are played regularly. Test cricket was first played in 1877, and the other two white-ball formats came way later. However, with three formats, the schedule for every team has become jam-packed, which makes it more difficult for the players to play every format and perform consistently.
But when the challenge is tough, the tougher gets better. There are players, who have done exceedingly well across all formats and scored consistently. There are six cricketers who have scored more than 25,000 international runs, which is an unimaginable landmark. This article will include a list of batters with the most international runs in their careers.
List of Players with Most International Runs in Cricket
| Batter | Span | Mts | Runs | HS | Avg | 100s | 50s |
| Sachin Tendulkar (IND) | 1989-2013 | 664 | 34357 | 248* | 48.52 | 100 | 164 |
| Kumar Sangakkara (SL) | 2000-2015 | 594 | 28016 | 319 | 46.77 | 63 | 153 |
| Ricky Ponting (AUS) | 1995-2012 | 560 | 27483 | 257 | 45.95 | 71 | 146 |
| Mahela Jayawardene (SL) | 1997-2015 | 652 | 25957 | 374 | 39.15 | 54 | 136 |
| Virat Kohli (IND) | 2008-2023 | 500 | 25582 | 254* | 53.63 | 76 | 131 |
| Jacques Kallis (SA) | 1995-2014 | 519 | 25534 | 224 | 49.10 | 62 | 149 |
| Rahul Dravid (IND) | 1996-2012 | 509 | 24208 | 270 | 45.41 | 48 | 146 |
| Brain Lara (WI) | 1990-2007 | 430 | 22358 | 400* | 46.38 | 53 | 111 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) | 1989-2011 | 586 | 21032 | 340 | 34.17 | 42 | 103 |
| Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI) | 1994-2015 | 454 | 20988 | 203* | 45.72 | 41 | 125 |
5. Virat Kohli (IND) – 25582 Runs
Virat Kohli recently became the fifth-highest run-getter at the international level, surpassing Jacques Kallis. The former Indian captain is a modern-day great, and his incredible numbers in all three formats. He has played 500 games so far and scored 25582 runs at an average of 53.63, with 76 centuries and 131 half-centuries. Virat is the only player with an average of 50 or more (more than 10,000 runs).
4. Mahela Jayawardene (SL) – 25957 Runs
Former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene was one of the most influential cricketers in his country. He was their most capped cricketer and holds the record for the fourth-highest test score. Jayawardene played 652 international matches in his career and scored 25957 runs at 39.15, with 54 centuries and 136 half-centuries.
3. Ricky Ponting (AUS) – 27483 Runs
2003 and 2007 World Cup-winning Australian captain Ricky Ponting has the best stats in international cricket for his country. Ponting played 560 games across formats and scored 27483 runs at an average of 45.95, with 71 centuries and 146 half-centuries for a best of 257 runs. He is one of the few players with over 13,000 runs in ODIs and Tests.
2. Kumar Sangakkara (SL) – 28016 Runs
Kumar Sangakkara was Sri Lanka’s highest and the second highest overall at the international level. The wicketkeeper batter holds many batting records in this game. He scored 2868 runs in 2014 across formats, which is the record for most runs in a calendar year. Sangakkara played 594 matches in his career and scored 28016 runs at an average of 46.77, including 63 centuries and 153 half-centuries.
1. Sachin Tendulkar (IND) – 34357 Runs
There is no player on the planet who has scored more runs than Sachin Tendulkar. In fact, the gap between him and the second-ranked batter is 6314 runs, which is just insane. Sachin played for India for a period of 24 years and was part of 664 games. He scored a total of 34357 runs at an average of 48.52, with 100 hundreds and 164 half-centuries. His stats are the best.