Fastest to 1000 runs in ODI cricket: Fakhar Zaman, Shubman Gill among quickest

Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman holds the record for the fastest 1,000 runs in ODI cricket. The opener achieved the milestone in only his 18th One-Day International, which came against a struggling Zimbabwe side in 2018 where he scored an 83-ball 85.

Interestingly enough, it took him just 1 year and 45 days to reach the 1000-run mark.

Fakhar Zaman made his ODI debut for Pakistan against South Africa in 2017 and it took a mere three innings to score two half-centuries. He announced himself on the international stage in what was his only fourth ODI for the national team. Up against India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final, he went on to score 114 runs off 106 balls as Pakistan posted 338/4 in the first innings.

The Indian batting unit crumbled against a stern Pakistan attack as they were bundled out for just 158 runs, as the latter picked up a fine win by 180 runs.

Fakhar crossed the 500-run mark in ODI cricket in only his first 12 innings, meaning that it took him a further six innings to breach the four figures. By the time he crossed the 1,000-run mark, he had six half-centuries, two tons and one double century.

Nearly six months after Fakhar had etched his name in the history books, his teammate Imam-ul-Haq came close to matching the feat, but fell an innings short. In what was his 19th career ODI, Imam crossed the 1000-run mark by scoring a match-winning 101 runs off 116 balls against South Africa. 

Riding on his century, Pakistan posted 317/6, but South Africa won the rain-affected match through D/L method.

Between 2017 to the time he scored 1000 ODI runs, Imam had scored five tons and four half-centuries. The year 2018, in particular, was arguably the best time of his career before touching the aforementioned milestone. During this time, he scored three centuries and as many half-centuries.

Meanwhile, India's swashbuckling opener Shubman Gill completes the top three. After smashing a double-century in the first ODI against New Zealand in January 2023 at Hyderabad, Gill became the fastest Indian batter to score 1000 ODI runs. 

Gill is also the youngest double-centurion in One Day Internationals. His knock of 208 runs from 145 balls is the fourth-fastest double-century in ODIs.

Former West Indies captain Sir Vivian Richards still finds himself in the top four list of the players who hold the record for the fastest 1,000 runs in 50-over cricket.

Although it took him over four years to touch the milestone, he did it against England in January 1980 in what was his 22nd One-Day International.

The likes of Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott complete the top five list. Furthermore, former Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli is the only Indian player to feature in the top 15 list of the players holding the record. He did so in what was his 27th ODI.

Fastest 1,000 runs in ODI cricket

Featured photo: AFP / Arif Ali