Indian legend Virat Kohli holds the record for most runs in a single edition of a World Cup in the 50-over format.
Virat Kohli became the player to record the most runs in a single edition of a World Cup in the 2023 edition of the 50-over tournament in India.
During the first semi-final of World Cup 2023 when India was facing New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Kohli went past the previous record holder Sachin Tendulkar to become the player with the most runs in a single ODI World Cup.
Tendulkar was the previous holder of the record having amassed 673 runs in 11 matches during World Cup 2003 in South Africa.
After the two legendary Indian batters, Australia’s Matthew Hayden comes in third on the list of most runs in a single ODI World Cup campaign.
He is followed on this list by Rohit Sharma in fourth spot and David Warner in fifth position.
With that said, here’s a closer look at the top 10 players with the most runs in a single edition of a World Cup.
Most runs in a single edition of a World Cup
| Rank | Player | Matches | Runs | World Cup Edition |
| 1 | Virat Kohli (India) | 11 | 765 | 2023 |
| 2 | Sachin Tendulkar (India) | 11 | 673 | 2003 |
| 3 | Matthew Hayden (Australia) | 11 | 659 | 2007 |
| 4 | Rohit Sharma (India) | 9 | 648 | 2019 |
| 5 | David Warner (Australia) | 10 | 647 | 2019 |
| 6 | Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) | 8 | 606 | 2019 |
| 7 | Quinton de Kock (South Africa) | 9 | 591 | 2023 |
| 8 | Kane Williamson (New Zealand) | 10 | 578 | 2019 |
| 9 | Ravindra Rachin (New Zealand) | 9 | 565 | 2023 |
| 10 | Joe Root (England) | 11 | 556 | 2019 |
Virat Kohli | 765 runs in 11 matches
Virat Kohli was in sensational form during the 2023 edition of the ODI World Cup in India. He scored 765 runs in 11 matches at a mind-boggling average of 95.62 and a strike rate of 90.31. Brilliant throughout the tournament, Kohli smashed three hundreds and six fifties in World Cup 2023. While going past Tendulkar’s record of most runs in a single edition of a 50-over World Cup, Kohli also broke the Master Blaster’s record of most tons in ODIs.
Sachin Tendulkar | 673 runs in 11 matches
As already mentioned prior to Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar held to record for most runs in a single edition of a World Cup. He did so in the 2003 edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup held across Kenya, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Tendulkar produced some sensational performances over the course of the tournament and finished with 673 runs in 11 matches at an average of 61.18 and a strike rate of 89.25. He hit one century and six half-centuries over the course of the tournament with his 90-plus knock against Pakistan being one of his best innings in World Cup 2003.
Matthew Hayden | 659 runs in 11 matches
During the ODI World Cup in 2007 held in West Indies, Australia’s Matthew Hayden was in sensational form and showed great form to finish as the top scorer in the tournament. After 11 matches en route to World Cup glory with the Australians, Hayden accumulated 659 runs at an average of 73.22 and a magnificent strike rate of 101.07. He scored three hundreds and one half-century over the course of the tournament and was crucial to Australia’s fourth ODI World Cup triumph.
Photo credit: Alamy
