Top Run Scorers in Cricket World Cup History

Known as the “Master Blaster”, Sachin Tendulkar leads the list of top run scorers in Cricket World Cup history with 2,278 runs scored across six tournaments from 1992 to 2011. He played in 45 World Cup matches before finally winning the trophy with India. Tendulkar holds the record for the most centuries (6) and fifties (15) in World Cup cricket, showing his ability to deliver big innings over a long period.

His highest score of 155 came against South Africa during the 2003 World Cup, where he also set the record for most runs scored in a single tournament, accumulating 673 runs. Except for 2007, he averaged over 40 in all his World Cup appearances, including two finals. Tendulkar’s mix of skill, grace, and experience on cricket’s biggest stage makes him the top World Cup run scorer of all time.

Virat Kohli, often seen as the successor to Tendulkar, has made a strong impact in just four World Cups from 2011 to 2023. He has scored 1,795 runs with an impressive average of 59.83, showing his ability to balance quick scoring and steady play. Kohli’s strike rate of 88.20 highlights his skill in keeping the scoreboard moving. His highest World Cup score, 136, came against the West Indies in 2019. Still active in international cricket, Kohli has a chance to move higher among the top World Cup run scorers.

Ricky Ponting, the former Australian captain, scored many runs in World Cups and led his team with great skill. He played in five World Cups from 1996 to 2011 and scored a total of 1,743 runs. Ponting holds the record for playing the most World Cup matches, with 46 games under his belt. He captained Australia to two World Cup titles, in 2003 and 2007, showing both batting skill and leadership.

His highest score came in the 2003 final against India, where he scored 140 not out. This innings helped Australia set a challenging target. Ponting scored five centuries in World Cups, including two in 2003. The 2007 tournament saw his best batting form, as he scored 539 runs at an average of 67.37, including one century and four fifties. As captain, he won 26 of 29 World Cup matches, making him the most successful leader in the tournament's history.

Rohit Sharma, the powerful Indian opener, has earned his place among the top World Cup run scorers in just three tournaments from 2015 to 2023. He has scored 1,575 runs, showing his strength in aggressive batting. Rohit holds the record for the highest individual score in a World Cup match with 264 runs against Sri Lanka in 2015. His ability to start the innings strongly and form large partnerships plays a key role in India’s batting success.

Kumar Sangakkara, known for his elegant batting, scored 1,532 runs in four World Cups from 2003 to 2015. He kept a high average of 57.61, showing great skill and reliability. Sangakkara’s highest score of 124 came in the 2015 World Cup final against Scotland, a match Sri Lanka lost by a small margin. He played a key role in Sri Lanka’s strong 2015 campaign, when they reached the final.

Sangakkara is also the most successful wicketkeeper in World Cup history, with 54 dismissals. He is one of only three players to score more than 1,500 runs in the tournament. His best World Cup was in 2015, his last with Sri Lanka, where he scored 541 runs at an average of 108.20. He made four centuries in a row during that tournament, a record in ODIs. As captain, he led Sri Lanka to the 2011 final, scoring 465 runs at an average of 93.00, including one century and three fifties.

David Warner reached his highest World Cup score in the 2015 tournament against Afghanistan, where he scored 178 runs from 133 balls. This innings set a personal best for Warner in the World Cup and also stood as the highest score by an Australian batsman in the event at that time. Warner’s aggressive style has helped him earn a place among the top run scorers in World Cup history.

Shakib al Hasan scored 1,332 runs in World Cups between 2007 and 2023. His highest score came against the West Indies, where he made 124 runs off 99 balls. This performance helped Bangladesh win the match by 7 wickets with 51 balls left. Shakib’s batting played a key role in Bangladesh’s World Cup efforts over the years.

Brian Lara, the famous West Indies batsman, had a mixed record in World Cups. He played in four tournaments (1992, 1996, 1999, 2007) and scored 1,225 runs in 14 matches, with an average of 42.24. His highest score was 116. While these numbers are good, they do not fully capture his talent as one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history.

Lara played in five World Cup campaigns starting in 1992 and appeared in 34 matches overall. He led the West Indies team in 1999 and 2007. Lara scored two centuries in World Cups, one in 1996 and the other in 2003. Except for 1999, he scored at least 200 runs in each tournament he played. His best innings came against South Africa in the 2003 World Cup opening game, when he made 116 runs. His last ODI in the World Cup was in the Super Eight stage against England at Bridgetown, where West Indies exited the tournament.

AB de Villiers, the famous South African batsman, had some remarkable moments in Cricket World Cups. His highest score stands out as one of the most memorable innings in World Cup history. In the 2015 tournament against the West Indies, de Villiers scored 162 runs from just 66 balls. This powerful knock helped South Africa reach their second-highest World Cup total of 408 runs. During this innings, he set records for the fastest 50, 100, and 150 in ODI cricket.

Although de Villiers did not win a World Cup in his three appearances (2007, 2011, and 2015), he remains South Africa’s top run-scorer in the tournament. His average of 63.52 is the highest among top scorers listed here. His World Cup debut in 2007 was a mix of highs and lows, with four ducks but also 372 runs in 10 matches, maintaining a strike rate above 100. In 2011, he scored two centuries, and in 2015, he made 482 runs, including the record-breaking 162 against West Indies.

Chris Gayle, the powerful West Indian batsman, holds the record for the highest individual score in a Cricket World Cup match. This achievement came in the 2015 World Cup against Zimbabwe at Manuka Oval, Canberra, where he scored an impressive 215 runs.

Gayle held the World Cup highest score record for almost a month. His 215 runs came off 147 balls, and he shared the largest partnership in the tournament’s history, 372 runs, with Marlon Samuels. However, Martin Guptill broke Gayle’s record in the quarterfinal, scoring an unbeaten 237 that ended West Indies’ tournament run.

In Gayle’s last World Cup in 2019, he showed signs of his former skill, scoring 87 against New Zealand. Yet, his performance was uneven, including a very brief innings of a 13-ball duck against Bangladesh, which was one of his worst in the format.