Top Five Run-Scorers In The History of World Cup

We are two weeks away from World Cup 2019 and unlike the previous many World Cups, batsmen are expected to have an easy road on what seem to be flat tracks of England that have been suiting batsmen more than bowlers. Batsmen are expected to dominate bowlers and scores of over 350 on the board being scored could be a regular story in the tournament.

While many batsmen are expected to create new records and break old records, here’s a look at top 5 batsmen with most runs in World Cup –

Sachin Tendulkar – Mr. World Cup. Probably the best word to use for Sachin Tendulkar when it comes to the World Cup. The batting legend is the highest run-scorer in the history of World Cups with 2278 runs in 44 innings. He has scored six tons and 15 half-centuries in 45 World Cup appearances with highest score of 152, which came against Namibia in 2003 World Cup.

Not to forget, he also played six World Cups, most by an Indian player. Tendulkar was a part of the Indian team that won the 2011 World Cup and played a pivotal role in triumph by scoring 482 runs.

Ricky Ponting – The former Australian captain and the most capped player in World Cup history, Ricky Ponting comes next on the list. He scored 1743 runs in 42 innings at an average of 45.86. Ponting also scored five centuries and six half-centuries in World Cups.

Under him, Australia won World Cup 2003 and 2007 and also made it to the second round of 2011 World Cup. India defeated Kangaroos in the quart-final of the tournament to move ahead and ultimately Men in Blue won the trophy after a wait of 28 years.

Kumar Sangakkara – The Sri Lankan legend comes third and a large credit goes to his form in the previous World Cup, where he scored 541 runs. Sangakkara was unstoppable in the tournament that was played in Australia and New Zealand as he scored four back to back centuries to create history.

However, Sri Lanka’s defeat against South Africa in the quarter-final marked an end to their hopes. Sangakkara scored 1532 runs in 37 matches that he played in the history of World Cup.

Brian Lara – The dream to win the World Cup for his team started in 1992 for Bran Lara but inaugural champions are yet to lift the trophy since 1979. Though he could never lift the World Cup, Lara played his final ODI in World Cup that was played in the Caribbean Islands.

The former West Indies captain scored 1225 runs in the history of World Cup at 42.24. His final ODI for West Indies was a thriller as England chased down a target of 301 on the penultimate delivery of the match with just one wicket in hand.

AB de Villiers – The former South African captain comes next on the list with a total of 1207 runs in his account in 22 innings. He was the captain of the side when South Africa suffered a loss against New Zealand in the semi-final of World Cup 2015, where South Africa-born Grant Elliot emerged to be the hero for Kiwis.

AB de Villiers continued to play for South Africa but relinquished captaincy on road to World Cup. Many hoped that 2019 World Cup would be his last but De Villiers delivered a big surprise by retiring from international cricket in 2018. He continues to play T20 leagues around the world, including IPL.