Modern cricket features an elite group of active batters who have dominated international formats for over a decade. Leading the pack is India’s legendary Virat Kohli, the only active player to cross the 28,000-run milestone. Following him is England’s Test anchor Joe Root, crossing 23,000 runs. India’s captain Rohit Sharma sits comfortably in third place, while Australia’s Steve Smith and Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim complete this elite top five.
Top 5 Active Players with Most International Runs
1. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has scored the most international runs among active cricketers. He has 28,359 runs. That puts him second on the all-time list, behind only Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli no longer plays T20Is or Tests. He retired from T20Is in June 2024 and from Tests in May 2025. He now plays only ODIs. In Tests, he scored 9,230 runs in 123 matches at an average of 46.85. He made 30 centuries and 31 fifties.
In ODIs, he has 15,109 runs in 317 matches at an average of 58.78. He has 55 centuries and 79 fifties. In T20Is, he scored 4,188 runs in 125 matches at an average of 48.69. He made one century and 38 fifties. Kohli holds the record for most ODI centuries. He was also the fastest to reach 23,000 international runs, doing it in 490 innings.
2. Joe Root
Joe Root is England’s highest run-scorer across all formats. He has 23,074 international runs. In September 2026, he became the first Englishman to reach 23,000 runs. He was the second-fastest to that mark, taking 521 innings. Only Kohli got there faster. In Tests, Root has 14,278 runs in 169 matches at an average of 50.45. He has 41 centuries and 69 fifties.
In ODIs, he has 7,903 runs in 195 matches at an average of 51.10. He has 20 centuries and 48 fifties. In T20Is, he scored 893 runs in 32 matches at an average of 35.72. He made no centuries and five fifties. Root’s 61 international centuries are the most by any England batter. No other English player has even 40. His Test run tally is second only to Tendulkar’s 15,921.
3. Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma has 20,652 international runs. Like Kohli, he has retired from T20Is and Tests. He now plays only ODIs. He is the fourth Indian to cross 20,000 international runs. In Tests, he scored 4,301 runs in 67 matches at an average of 40.58. He made 12 centuries and 18 fifties. In ODIs, he has 12,120 runs in 291 matches at an average of 48.95. He has 34 centuries and 62 fifties.
In T20Is, he scored 4,231 runs in 159 matches at an average of 32.05. He made five centuries and 32 fifties. Rohit holds the record for the highest individual score in ODI history. He made 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014. He is the only batter with three ODI double centuries. His five T20I centuries are the most in the format.
4. Steve Smith
Steve Smith has 17,866 international runs. He is Australia’s top Test batter and a former captain. He retired from ODIs after the 2025 Champions Trophy. He still plays Tests and T20Is. In Tests, Smith has 10,920 runs in 125 matches at an average of 56.00. He has 37 centuries and 45 fifties. In ODIs, he scored 5,800 runs in 170 matches at an average of 43.28. He made 12 centuries and 35 fifties.
In T20Is, he has 1,094 runs in 67 matches at an average of 24.86. He made no centuries and five fifties. Smith’s Test average of 56.00 is the highest among the top five active run-scorers. In October 2026, he went past Steve Waugh to become Australia’s third-highest Test run-scorer. Only Ricky Ponting and Allan Border are ahead of him.
5. Mushfiqur Rahim
Mushfiqur Rahim has 16,171 international runs. He is Bangladesh’s most experienced player and their highest Test run-scorer. He retired from ODIs in 2025 but still plays Tests and T20Is. In Tests, he has 6,876 runs in 105 matches at an average of 39.11. He made 14 centuries and 29 fifties.
In ODIs, he scored 7,795 runs in 274 matches at an average of 36.42. He has nine centuries and 49 fifties. In T20Is, he has 1,500 runs in 102 matches at an average of 19.48. He made no centuries and six fifties. Mushfiqur is the only Bangladeshi to score more than 16,000 international runs. He is his country’s top run-scorer in Tests and second-highest in ODIs.
FAQs
Q. Who has scored the most international runs among active cricketers?
A. Virat Kohli leads with 28,359 international runs.
Q. How many international runs has Joe Root scored?
A. Joe Root has scored 23,074 international runs across all formats.
Q. Which records does Rohit Sharma hold in ODI cricket?
A. Rohit holds the highest individual ODI score of 264 and is the only batter with three ODI double centuries.
Q. How many international runs has Steve Smith scored?
A. Steve Smith has scored 17,866 international runs and still plays Tests and T20Is.
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