Since the rise of limited-overs cricket, the role of a wicketkeeper is not just limited to keeping wickets but also contributing crucial runs with the bat. And over the years, keepers have also taken their batting skills to the next level, garnering a significant number of runs.
A few keeper-batters like Adam Gilchrist, Kumar Sangakkara, and MS Dhoni delighted everyone with their batting prowess. Now, the new age players like Jos Buttler, Shai Hope, and Rishabh Pant have taken up the mantle on their shoulders.
With that said, let’s take a look at the top 10 wicketkeepers with the most runs in ODIs.
Most Runs by a Wicketkeeper in ODI
| Player | Innings | Runs as WK | High Score | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kumar Sangakkara (SL) | 340 | 13341 | 169 | 43.74 |
| MS Dhoni (IND) | 297 | 10773 | 183* | 50.57 |
| Adam Gilchrist (AUS) | 274 | 9410 | 172 | 35.64 |
| Mushfiqur Rahim (BAN) | 241 | 7252 | 144 | 36.07 |
| Quinton de Kock (SA) | 154 | 6767 | 178 | 46.03 |
| Andy Flower (ZIM) | 183 | 5845 | 145 | 34.58 |
| Shai Hope (WI) | 123 | 5302 | 170 | 50.01 |
| Jos Buttler (ENG) | 153 | 5022 | 162* | 39.85 |
| Mark Boucher (SA) | 220 | 4680 | 147* | 28.71 |
| Brendon McCullum (NZ) | 157 | 4057 | 131 | 30.73 |
Key Insights
13341: Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara has scored the most runs as a wicketkeeper in ODIs. Out of 14234 ODI runs, 13341 came while playing as a designated wicketkeeper. Overall, Sangakkara scored 17840 runs as a keeper-batter in all formats.
350: Only 2 players, Sangakkara and MS Dhoni, have played 350 or more ODI matches as wicketkeepers. Sangakkara played 360 matches, while India’s ‘Captain Cool’ featured in 350 games.
183: India’s lighting fast keeper, MS Dhoni, holds the record for the highest individual score by a keeper in the 50-over format. In the early days of his career, MSD used to bat up the order, and he scored an unbeaten 183 while coming to bat at No. 3 against Sri Lanka in 2005.
21: Quinton de Kock, the South African keeper-batter who retired from the ODI format in 2023, notched up 21 centuries, the second-most by a wicketkeeper in the 50-over format. Kumar Sangakkara scored the most hundreds, with 23 to his name.
50: MS Dhoni and Shai Hope boast an impressive average of 50+ in ODIs. Only these 2 have a 50+ average among the keeper-batters with 3000+ runs.
