South African cricketer Hashim Amla has scored the fastest 4000 runs in ODI cricket. The top-order had taken just 84 matches and 81 innings to reach the figure. He had achieved this milestone against India in 2013.
Limited-overs cricket has always craved batsmen who could score runs at a steady rate consistently. Unlike Tests and T20Is, where the need has always been to either play slow or aggressively, the 50-over format requires one to have the perfect balance of both to excel. And cricket has been graced by batsmen who have set the stage on fire in this format.
Below is the list of batsmen who are masters of the ODI format.
Fastest 4000 runs in ODI cricket: Top 10 list
| Rank | Player | Nationality | Matches | Inns |
| 1 | Hashim Amla | South Africa | 84 | 81 |
| 2 | Babar Azam | Pakistan | 84 | 82 |
| 3 | IVA Richards | West Indies | 96 | 88 |
| 4 | JE Root | England | 97 | 91 |
| 5 | V Kohli | India | 96 | 93 |
| 6 | DA Warner | Australia | 95 | 93 |
| 7 | Q de Kock | South Africa | 94 | 94 |
| 8 | S Dhawan | India | 96 | 95 |
| 9 | CG Greenidge | West Indies | 97 | 96 |
| 10 | KS Williamson | New Zealand | 102 | 96 |
Hashim Amla | 4000 runs in 84 matches
The South African hard-hitter had reached his 4000 ODI runs in exquisite fashion when he had scored a century against India in Durban on December 8, 2013. An innings full of swagger, Amla had hit eight boundaries to bring up his 100 – a quintessential ODI knock. Making his ODI cricket debut in 2008, Amla had taken just five years and 247 days to reach 4000 runs. Amla remains the fastest player to score 4000 ODI runs in cricket.
Babar Azam | 4000 runs in 84 matches
Pakistan’s answer to India’s Virat Kohli, Babar Azam is the ideal modern-day ODI cricketer who made headlines by overcoming West Indian great Sir Vivian Richards to reach 4000 runs in just 82 innings. Azam reached the milestone on March 29, 2022, during Australia’s tour of Pakistan. Chasing 314 runs, Azam partnered Imam-ul-Haq for 96 runs before the hosts were bundled for 225 runs. Azam scored 57 runs to bring up his 4000 ODI runs.
Sir Vivian Richards | 4000 runs in 88 matches
A player born in the wrong era of cricket, West Indies’ Vivian Richards was always considered a limited-overs batsman despite his Test cricket exploits. He held the record for scoring the fastest 4000 ODI runs for 28 years before Amla finally broke it in 2013. Richards had taken 88 matches to reach the milestone and reached it during New Zealand’s tour of West Indies in 1985 where he scored a half-century. Following Richards, West Indies have boasted of pinch-hitters like Brian Lara, Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell and more, but none could break his record.
Virat Kohli | 4000 runs in 93 matches
Once considered a run-machine in any format of the game and winner of the ICC Player of the Decade, Virat Kohli had redefined how cricket should be played in the ODI format. While Kohli might have played nine more matches than Amla to reach his 4000 runs, hardly any ODI cricketer can match the speed with which he tallied this figure. Making his ODI debut in August 18, 2008, Kohli had taken just four years and 154 days to score 4000 runs. Only England’s Joe Root has scored it faster than Kohli, taking 107 days and two matces less.
Quinton de Kock | 4000 runs in 94 ODIs
South African cricket’s blue-eyed boy, Quinton de Kock has been an absolutely gemn to watch in the 50-overs format. Making his ODI debut in 2013, the southpaw has hardly looked out of touch. His greatest moment had come in a three-match ODI series at home against India on his debut year when the top-order batsman had scored three consecutive centuries to announce his arrival. After scoring 135 in the first ODI, Quinton de Kock would score 106 and 101 against the then ICC World Cup champions. He brought up his 4000 ODI runs in 94 innings.
Top 5 Indian batsmen with 4000 runs in ODI cricket
| Rank | Player | Matches | Inns |
| 1 | Virat Kohli | 96 | 93 |
| 2 | Shikhar Dhawan | 96 | 95 |
| 3 | Sourav Ganguly | 110 | 105 |
| 4 | Navjot Singh Sidhu | 116 | 109 |
| 5 | Gautam Gambhir | 114 | 110 |
While Virat Kohli is currently the fifth-fastest batsman to reach 4000 runs in ODI, he is followed Shikhar Dhawan, Sourav Ganguly, Navjot Singh Sidhu and Gautam Gambhir on the list. Interestingly, Master Blasters Sachin Tendulkar, despite his mammoth run tally in the format, isn’t the fastest to this milestone anymore. However, the Indian legend is still fastest to 17000 and 18000 runs in ODI cricket.
FAQs
Who scored the fastest 5000 ODI runs?
South Africa’s Hashim Amla has scored the fastest 5000 ODI runs. The top order batsman is also the fastest to 2000, 3000, 4000 and 6000 ODI runs.
Who scored the fastest 3000 runs in ODIs?
Hashim Amla has scored the fastest 3000 runs in ODI.
Who scored the fastest 6000 runs in ODIs?
South African opener Hashim Amla has scored the fastest 6000 runs in ODIs.
Who scored the fastest 2000 runs in ODI cricket?
Hashim Amla has scored the fastest 2000 runs in ODI cricket.
How fast did Babar Azam reach 4000 runs in ODI?
Babar Azam had reached 4000 runs in ODI cricket in just 84 matches and 82 innings.
Who scored the fastest 10000 runs in ODI?
Widely considered to be the best batsmen across all formats, Virat Kohli scored the fastest 10,000 runs in ODI cricket. He took 213 matches and 208 innings to reach the milestone.
Which batsman was the fastest to reach 8000 runs in ODI?
Former India captain Virat Kohli was the fastest to reach 8000 runs in ODI cricket. He took 183 matches and 175 innings to reach the milestone.
