As a captain, one needs to lead by example. And it’s not just about implementing the strategies but also bringing out the A-level performance personally.
In general, we often see batters tasked with the big responsibility. Many have donned the captaincy hat well without affecting their own performance.
The same is true when it comes to ICC tournaments, where the pressure level just goes through the roof. Despite the high-pressure environment, some captains bailed out their teams with their fine run-scoring.
And here are the top 10 captains with the most runs in white-ball ICC tournaments.
Most Runs as Captain in ICC Tournaments
| Captain | Total Runs | ODI WC | T20 WC | CT | WTC Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ricky Ponting (AUS) | 1752 | 1160 | 86 | 506 | – |
| Kane Williamson (NZ) | 1724 | 834 | 545 | 244 | 101 |
| Graeme Smith (SA) | 1342 | 626 | 352 | 364 | – |
| Stephen Fleming (NZ) | 1323 | 882 | – | 441 | – |
| Rohit Sharma (IND) | 1150 | 597 | 373 | 180 | 58 |
| Mahela Jayawardene (SL) | 1096 | 548 | 360 | 188 | – |
| Sourav Ganguly (IND) | 1046 | 465 | – | 581 | – |
| MS Dhoni (IND) | 1037 | 478 | 529 | 30 | – |
| Babar Azam (PAK) | 869 | 320 | 549 | – | – |
| Kumar Sangakkara (SL) | 860 | 465 | 329 | 66 | – |
More “ICC Tournaments” Records
Most Runs as Captain in ICC Tournaments
Most Runs in Knock-Out Matches of ICC Tournaments
Highest Batting Average in ICC Tournaments
Most Fifties in ICC Tournaments
Most Fifties in Knock-Out Matches of ICC Tournaments
Most Centuries in ICC Tournaments
Most Centuries in Knock-Out Matches of ICC Tournaments
Most Wickets in ICC Tournaments
Most Wickets in in Knock-Out Matches of ICC Tournaments
Most Man of the Match Awards in ICC
Most Wins by Players in ICC Tournaments
Key Insights
1752: Ricky Ponting occupies the top spot by scoring the most runs as captain in ICC tournaments. The former Australian captain garnered 1752 runs in 51 matches across World Cups (ODI & T20I) and the Champions Trophy.
1160: Ponting has also scored the most runs as captain in the ODI World Cup. Of his overall tally, 1160 runs have come in the ODI World Cup. He averaged 52.72 while carving four centuries and five fifties.
581: In the Champions Trophy, the Australian skipper comes second with 506 runs. India’s Sourav Ganguly pips him for the top spot with 581 runs at an average of 83. Ganguly dotted the tally with three hundreds and two fifties.
549: Babar Azam leads the chart in the T20 World Cup. The Pakistani captain accumulated 549 runs in 17 games, including five half-centuries. Kane Williamson (545) and MS Dhoni (529) are the other two skippers with 500-plus runs.
6: Ganguly has slammed the most centuries in ICC tournaments as captain. Apart from his three tons in CT, Ganguly scored three in the ODI WC to make it six. Ponting follows him with five centuries.
14: Ponting scored 14 knocks of fifty or more runs, the most by a skipper in ICC tournaments. Williamson is the other captain with more than 10 fifty-plus scores.
181: Viv Richards has smashed the highest score by a captain in an ICC event. The former West Indies skipper scored 181 runs off 125 balls against Sri Lanka in the 1987 World Cup. His knock came at a strike rate of 144.80 while hammering 16 fours and 7 sixes. Find out who tops this list in T20 World Cup.
64: Apart from Richards, five more captains have logged 150-plus scores. Among them, AB de Villiers scored the fastest 150 in ODI cricket. He brought up his 150 in 64 balls against the West Indies in a 2015 World Cup match.
40: Ponting and Dhoni have secured the joint-most wins as captains in ICC events. Both managed to win 40 games each for their respective teams.
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