Superstar Indian cricketer and number 3 batsman Virat Kohli is arguably the greatest ODI batsman of all time. Many fans and experts hail him as the greatest ODI run-chaser already, putting him on a higher rank than even Sachin Tendulkar, who for many is still the GOAT ODI batter.
One of the arguments made in favor of Tendulkar over Kohli is that Tendulkar had not one, not two, but three massive run-scoring ODI World Cup tournaments (1996, 2003, and 2011), while Virat Kohli hasn’t really carried India single-handedly enough in ODI World Cup competitions.
The 34-year-old Kohli, who is playing what would most likely be his last ODI World Cup tournament, can make his case stronger in the ongoing World Cup 2023. He’s started on a solid note already with a knock of 85 runs against Australia in challenging conditions in Chennai, in a high-pressure situation after India were 2/3 in 2 overs.
Talking about Virat Kohli in World Cups, the Delhi-born batsman is the 10th leading run-scorer in ODI World Cups. He has scored 1115 runs in 27 innings at an average of 48 with 2 centuries and 7 fifties (stats updated until October 11, 2023, before the India vs Afghanistan match).
Sachin Tendulkar is the leading run-scorer in ODI World Cup history with 2278 runs at an average of 56, raising 6 centuries and 15 fifties.
Kohli does have a lot of catching up to do with Tendulkar in terms of runs in the ODI World Cup, and it looks highly unlikely that he will surpass Tendulkar’s tally in this World Cup 2023. However, others are not too ahead of him, and he genuinely has a good chance to crossing Ponting’s number of runs and finishing just behind Tendulkar.
Following Tendulkar in the list of top 5 run-scorers in the ODI World Cup are batting greats Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara, Brian Lara, and AB de Villiers.
List of top 10 run-scorers in ODI World Cup history ft. Virat Kohli:
| Position | Player Name | Runs Scored | Innings Played | Highest Score | Career |
| 1 | Sachin Tendulkar (IND) | 2278 | 44 | 152 | 1992-2011 |
| 2 | Ricky Ponting (AUS) | 1743 | 42 | 140* | 1996-2011 |
| 3 | Kumar Sangakkara (SL) | 1532 | 35 | 124 | 2003-2015 |
| 4 | Brian Lara (WI) | 1225 | 33 | 116 | 1992-2007 |
| 5 | AB de Villiers (SA) | 1207 | 22 | 162* | 2007-2015 |
| 6 | Chris Gayle (WI) | 1186 | 34 | 215 | 2003-2019 |
| 7 | Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) | 1165 | 37 | 120 | 1992-2007 |
| 8 | Shakib Al Hasan (BAN) | 1160 | 29 | 124* | 2007-2023 |
| 9 | Jacques Kallis (SA) | 1148 | 32 | 128* | 1996-2011 |
| 10 | Virat Kohli (IND) | 1115 | 27* | 107 | 2011-2023* |
