Most Runs For India in ODI

India has been playing ODI cricket since 1974, and their batting has played a huge role in winning the matches. Earlier India was known for their batting but after the 2011 World Cup India has been recognized as a team who are equally good in every department of cricket. Four batsmen from India have also made it to the list of top 10 run-scorers in the history of ODI cricket. Let’s talk about the players with the most number of runs for India in ODI cricket. 

Sachin Tendulkar 

Sachin Tendulkar has scored the most number of runs (18426) for India in ODIs. Being the highest run-scorer in the game with 34347 runs., he had an illustrious ODI career of 23 years (1989-2012). Sachin has the most number of hundred and 50s in One Day cricket. The greatest man also holds the record of being not out the most number of times (41) among the players with 12000 runs. Tendulkar is also the first-ever batsman to smash a double-century in ODIs. 

Matches	Innings	Runs	Average	Strike-rate	Best	50s	100s
463	452	18426	44.83	86.23	200*	96	49

Virat Kohli 

Virat Kohli has scored the 2nd most number of runs (13848) in One-day international cricket. So far he has played 13 years of ODI cricket for India (2008-continue). Virat has the highest batting average (58.67) in the history of ODI cricket. Many experts have rated Virat as the best in this format ever. During India’s World Cup game against South Africa Virat surpassed Sachin’s record of 49 centuries with a hard 117 off 113 balls. Virat has consistently notched up runs for India in the ODIs since his debut. Kohli also has the highest strike rate (93.58) among 10k run-scorers in ODI cricket. 

Matches	Innings	Runs	Average	Strike-rate	Best	50s	100s
292	280	13848	58.67	93.58	183	72	50

Sourav Ganguly 

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly gets 3rd place in terms of notching up the most number of runs (11363) for India in ODI cricket. Ganguly is one of five players who have scored more than 10,000 runs in ODIs for India. Ganguly made his ODI debut against West Indies in 1992 and went on to play till 2008. Ganguly has played against the best bowlers in the history of cricket and averaged 41. During his career, he also captained the side for 6 years (1999-2005) in 147 matches and won 76 matches. He led India to win the ICC Champions Trophy in 2002. 

Matches	Innings	Runs	Average	Strike-rate	Best	50s	100s
308	297	11363	41	73.65	183	72	22

Rahul Dravid 

Rahul Dravid seals the 4th spot on the list of scoring the most number of runs (10889) for India in ODI cricket. The cricketing fraternity has tagged Rahul Dravid as “a test player.” But Rahul was equally good in One Day International also. He is one of the players in history who has made bowlers exhausted with his flawless batting. Dravid has the 2nd most number of the fifties (83) among Indians in ODIs. He has amassed runs with a commendable average of 39.16.

Matches	Innings	Runs	Average	Strike-rate	Best	50s	100s
340	314	10889	39.16	71.18	153	83	13

Rohit Sharma 

The current Indian explosive batsman has notched up the 5th most number of runs for India in ODIs. Rohit Sharma made his debut in 2007 against Ireland. Rohit is also the only player to hit 3 double centuries in the history of ODI cricket. As an opener, Sharma has amassed 10709 runs with a sensational average of 49.12 He also has smashed 31 hundred, and 55 fifties so far. 

Matches	Innings	Runs	Average	Strike-rate	Best	50s	100s
262	254	10709	49.12	91.97	264	55	31

MS Dhoni 

Former Indian skipper MS Dhoni has accumulated the 6th most number of runs (10773) in ODI cricket. MS Dhoni is the only lower-order batsman in the world to score more than 10,000 runs in One Day International. Dhoni made his ODI debut in 2004 against Bangladesh and played till 2019. Despite batting at no 6, and 7 he has a bewitching batting average of 50.23. Dhoni also holds a unique record of being not out the most number of times (84) in ODIs. Dhoni has led India in ODIs for 11 years (2007-2018) and has the third-highest winning average (59.52). 

Matches	Innings	Runs	Average	Strike-rate	Best	50s	100s
350	297	10773	50.23	87.56	183*	73	10

Mohammad Azharuddin 

Mohammad Azharuddin finds himself in the 7th position in the matter of making the most number of runs (9378) for India in ODI cricket. Azhar made his ODI debut in 1985 and had a career of 16 years. He was one of the main players of India in his era. He scored runs with a decent average of 36.92. He also captained India in 174 matches and won 94 of them.

Matches	Innings	Runs	Average	Strike-rate	Best	50s	100s
334	308	9378	36.92	74.02	153*	58	7

Yuvraj Singh 

Ex-Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh occupies 8th place when it comes to amassing the most runs (8701) for India in ODI cricket. Yuvraj has been a great savior of Indian cricket. He is the only all-rounder on the list. He had an impressive average of 36.56 and had 111 scalps also. He was even the Man of the Tournament in the 2011 World Cup and played a huge role in winning the ICC event for India. 

Matches	Innings	Runs	Average	Strike-rate	Best	50s	100s
304	278	8701	36.56	87.68	150	52	14

Virender Sehwag 

Former Indian swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag has made the 9th most number of runs (8273) for India in ODI cricket. Sehwag was a player who used to begin hitting from the 1st ball irrespective of the format in his era when the best bowlers like Glenn Mcgrath, Brett Lee, Shoaib Akhtar, Shane Bond, etc bowled ruthlessly. He made his first appearance in ODIs in 1999 against Pakistan and played ODI till 2013. Sehwag is the only player on the list to score runs with an admirable strike rate of 104.33. 

Matches	Innings	Runs	Average	Strike-rate	Best	50s	100s
251	245	8273	35.05	104.33	219	38	15

Shikhar Dhawan 

Existent Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan is in the 10th position in terms of notching up the most runs (6793) for India in ODIs. Dhawan made his ODI debut in 2010 against Australia. He is known for his aggressive gameplay. So far he has amassed runs with a magnificent average of 44.11. Dhawan has won two golden bats for being the highest run-scorer in two consecutive Champions Trophies (2013,2017). He also has the second-best batting strike rate (91.35) among the players who have made more than 5,000 runs for India.

Matches	Innings	Runs	Average	Strike-rate	Best	50s	100s
167	164	6793	44.11	91.35	143	39	17

List of Top 10 Most ODI Runs for India

Player	Mat	Inn	Runs	AVG	SR	Best	50s	100s
S Tendulkar	463	452	18426	44.83	86.23	200*	96	49
V Kohli	292	280	13848	58.67	93.58	183	72	50
S Ganguly	308	297	11221	40.95	73.65	183	71	16
R Dravid	340	314	10768	39.15	71.78	153	82	12
R Sharma	262	254	10709	49.12	91.81	264	55	31
MS Dhoni	347	294	10599	50.27	87.13	183*	73	09
M Azharuddin	334	308	9378	36.92	74.02	153*	58	07
Y Singh	301	275	8609	36.47	83.43	150	52	14
V Sehwag	241	235	7995	35.37	104.44	219	37	15
S Dhawan	167	164	6793	44.11	91.35	143	39	17
S Raina	226	194	5615	35.31	93.50	116*	36	05