Virat Kohli became the first player to score 500 runs in a bilateral ODI series. Virat Kohli scored 558 Runs in 6 Innings in the series against South Africa in 2017/18.
Fakhar Zaman, the Pakistani opener, became the first-ever batsman to smash 500+ runs in a 5-match ODI series between two sides.
The list includes the batters with the most runs in a bilateral ODI series, i.e., involving just two teams.
Most Runs in a Bilateral ODI Series
| BATSMEN | RUNS | INNINGS | AVERAGE | SERIES | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli (IND) | 558 | 6 | 186.00 | India in South Africa | 2017/18 |
| Fakhar Zaman (PAK) | 515 | 5 | 257.50 | Pakistan in Zimbabwe | 2018/19 |
| Rohit Sharma (IND) | 491 | 6 | 122.75 | Australia in India | 2013/14 |
| George Bailey (AUS) | 478 | 6 | 95.60 | Australia in India | 2013/14 |
| Hamilton Masakadza (ZIM) | 467 | 5 | 116.75 | Kenya in Zimbabwe | 2009/10 |
| Chris Gayle (WI) | 455 | 7 | 65.00 | West Indies in India | 2002/03 |
| Kevin Pietersen (ENG) | 454 | 6 | 151.33 | England in South Africa | 2004/05 |
| Kumar Sangakkara (SL) | 454 | 7 | 75.67 | England in Sri Lanka | 2014/15 |
| Virat Kohli (IND) | 453 | 5 | 151.00 | West Indies in India | 2018/19 |
| Salman Butt (PAK) | 451 | 5 | 90.20 | Bangladesh in Pakistan ODI Series | 2007/08 |
You can read the same list for T20Is here.
Key Stats
Virat scored 3 centuries and 1 half-century during the record-breaking series against South Africa. He stayed not-out 3 times in the series. His strike rate throughout the series was at 99.46 at an average of mighty 186.00. India won the Series 5-1 which was India’s first ODI Series victory in South Africa, in which Virat was named the Player of the Series. Find out the list of players who have won the most Man of the Series in Cricket (All formats).
Virat is also the only batsman in ODI history to score 3 centuries in an ODI series between two countries, twice. 9 other batsmen have achieved the feat once in their career.
Fakhar Zaman became the first Pakistani player to score a double century in a ODI game in the Zimbabwe series. The record-breaking series included 2 100s & 2 50s from Zaman’s bat. Find the highest scorers for every ODI playing nations here.
The former Pakistani batsman Mohammad Yousuf’s average of 405 in the series against Zimbabwe in 2002 is the best by a batsman in a two-teams ODI series. He was dismissed only once in the 4 innings he batted in the series, scoring 405 runs including 2 centuries and 2 fifties.
The other Indian batsman who came so close to score 500+ runs in a bilateral series is Rohit Sharma when he scored 491 runs against Australia in 2013/14. Rohit’s record score of 209 came in that series. You can find out Rohit’s insane record against Australia in ODIs here.
Kepler Wessels faced the most number of balls in a bilateral ODI series. The South African ended up facing 668 balls in the 1992 home series against India and scored 342 runs. Virat in the South Africa series faced 561 balls to achieve his record numbers.
