Cricket is a sport that holds a special place in the hearts of people worldwide. One of the most captivating elements of the game is witnessing the batsmen display their skill and power, skillfully guiding the ball to the boundary. In the One Day International (ODI) format, batsmen have truly mesmerized fans with their extraordinary abilities, and a few among them have been exceptionally proficient in finding the fence consistently. This article aims to shed light on the record-holders for the most fours in ODI cricket history, delving into their accomplishments and invaluable contributions to the sport.
Most Fours in ODI Cricket History – Top 50 Batsmen
Below is the list of the top 10 batsmen who have the distinction of hitting the most fours in the history of ODI cricket:
S.No. | Player Name | Team | 4s | 6s | Mat | Inn | Runs | Highest | 100s | 50s | Avg. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 2,016 | 195 | 463 | 452 | 18,426 | 200* | 49 | 96 | 44.83 |
2 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 1,500 | 270 | 445 | 433 | 13,430 | 189 | 28 | 68 | 32.36 |
3 | Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 1,385 | 88 | 404 | 380 | 14,234 | 169 | 25 | 93 | 41.98 |
4 | Ricky Ponting | Australia | 1,231 | 162 | 375 | 365 | 13,704 | 164 | 30 | 82 | 42.03 |
5 | Virat Kohli | India | 1,211 | 138 | 275 | 265 | 12,898 | 183 | 46 | 65 | 57.32 |
6 | Adam Gilchrist | Australia | 1,162 | 149 | 287 | 279 | 9,619 | 172 | 16 | 55 | 35.89 |
7 | Virender Sehwag | India | 1,132 | 136 | 251 | 245 | 8,273 | 219 | 15 | 38 | 35.05 |
8 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 1,128 | 331 | 301 | 294 | 10,480 | 215 | 25 | 54 | 37.83 |
9 | Sourav Ganguly | India | 1,122 | 190 | 311 | 300 | 11,363 | 183 | 22 | 72 | 41.02 |
10 | Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | 1,119 | 76 | 448 | 418 | 12,650 | 144 | 19 | 77 | 33.37 |
11 | Hashan Tillakaratne | Sri Lanka | 1,111 | 55 | 330 | 303 | 10,290 | 161* | 22 | 47 | 39.27 |
12 | Brian Lara | West Indies | 1,042 | 133 | 299 | 289 | 10,405 | 169 | 19 | 63 | 40.48 |
13 | Inzamam-ul-Haq | Pakistan | 971 | 144 | 378 | 350 | 11,739 | 137* | 10 | 83 | 39.52 |
14 | Rahul Dravid | India | 950 | 42 | 344 | 318 | 10,889 | 153 | 12 | 83 | 39.16 |
15 | Saeed Anwar | Pakistan | 938 | 97 | 247 | 244 | 8,824 | 194 | 20 | 43 | 39.21 |
16 | Herschelle Gibbs | South Africa | 930 | 128 | 248 | 240 | 8,094 | 175 | 21 | 37 | 36.13 |
17 | Tamim Iqbal | Bangladesh | 918 | 103 | 241 | 239 | 8,313 | 158 | 14 | 56 | 36.62 |
18 | Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 911 | 137 | 328 | 314 | 11,579 | 139 | 17 | 86 | 44.36 |
19 | Yuvraj Singh | India | 908 | 155 | 304 | 278 | 8,701 | 150 | 14 | 52 | 36.55 |
20 | Rohit Sharma | India | 902 | 275 | 244 | 237 | 9,837 | 264 | 30 | 48 | 48.69 |
21 | Shikhar Dhawan | India | 842 | 79 | 167 | 164 | 6,793 | 143 | 17 | 39 | 44.11 |
22 | AB de Villiers | South Africa | 840 | 204 | 228 | 218 | 9,577 | 176 | 25 | 53 | 53.50 |
23 | MS Dhoni | India | 826 | 229 | 350 | 297 | 10,773 | 183* | 10 | 73 | 50.57 |
24 | Stephen Fleming | New Zealand | 823 | 63 | 280 | 269 | 8,037 | 134* | 8 | 49 | 32.40 |
25 | Hashim Amla | South Africa | 822 | 53 | 181 | 178 | 8,113 | 159 | 27 | 39 | 49.46 |
26 | Upul Tharanga | Sri Lanka | 798 | 52 | 235 | 223 | 6,951 | 174* | 15 | 37 | 33.74 |
27 | Graeme Smith | South Africa | 788 | 44 | 197 | 194 | 6,989 | 141 | 10 | 47 | 37.98 |
28 | Mohammad Yousuf | Pakistan | 785 | 90 | 288 | 273 | 9,720 | 141* | 15 | 64 | 41.71 |
29 | Desmond Haynes | West Indies | 768 | 53 | 238 | 237 | 8,648 | 152* | 17 | 57 | 41.37 |
30 | Martin Guptill | New Zealand | 750 | 187 | 198 | 195 | 7,346 | 237* | 18 | 39 | 41.73 |
31 | Marvan Atapattu | Sri Lanka | 734 | 15 | 268 | 259 | 8,529 | 132* | 11 | 59 | 37.57 |
32 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 730 | 351 | 398 | 369 | 8,064 | 124 | 6 | 39 | 23.57 |
33 | Shivnarine Chanderpaul | West Indies | 722 | 85 | 268 | 251 | 8,778 | 150 | 11 | 59 | 41.60 |
34 | Nathan Astle | New Zealand | 720 | 86 | 223 | 217 | 7,090 | 145* | 16 | 41 | 34.92 |
35 | Ross Taylor | New Zealand | 713 | 147 | 236 | 220 | 8,607 | 181* | 21 | 51 | 47.55 |
36 | Aravinda de Silva | Sri Lanka | 712 | 102 | 308 | 296 | 9,284 | 145 | 11 | 64 | 34.90 |
37 | Quinton de Kock | South Africa | 687 | 93 | 140 | 140 | 5,966 | 178 | 17 | 29 | 44.85 |
38 | Michael Clarke | Australia | 665 | 53 | 245 | 223 | 7,981 | 130 | 8 | 58 | 44.58 |
39 | Mohammad Hafeez | Pakistan | 664 | 110 | 218 | 216 | 6,614 | 140* | 11 | 38 | 32.90 |
40 | Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 660 | 46 | 235 | 222 | 7,211 | 134* | 9 | 53 | 37.55 |
41 | Gary Kirsten | South Africa | 659 | 20 | 185 | 185 | 6,798 | 188* | 13 | 45 | 40.95 |
42 | Eoin Morgan | England | 654 | 220 | 248 | 230 | 7,701 | 148 | 14 | 47 | 39.29 |
43 | Mark Waugh | Australia | 651 | 57 | 244 | 236 | 8,500 | 173 | 18 | 50 | 39.35 |
44 | David Warner | Australia | 639 | 92 | 142 | 140 | 6,030 | 179 | 19 | 27 | 45.00 |
45 | Matthew Hayden | Australia | 636 | 87 | 161 | 155 | 6,133 | 181* | 10 | 36 | 43.80 |
46 | Mohammad Azharuddin | India | 622 | 77 | 334 | 308 | 9,378 | 153* | 7 | 58 | 36.92 |
47 | Shoaib Malik | Pakistan | 603 | 113 | 287 | 258 | 7,534 | 143 | 9 | 44 | 34.55 |
48 | Paul Stirling | Ireland | 601 | 135 | 154 | 149 | 5,598 | 177 | 14 | 28 | 38.34 |
49 | Sir Viv Richards | West Indies | 600 | 126 | 187 | 167 | 6,721 | 189* | 11 | 45 | 47.00 |
50 | Brendan Taylor | Zimbabwe | 599 | 106 | 205 | 203 | 6,684 | 145* | 11 | 39 | 35.55 |
51 | Kane Williamson | New Zealand | 594 | 51 | 161 | 153 | 6,554 | 148 | 13 | 42 | 47.83 |
52 | Hamilton Masakadza | Zimbabwe | 585 | 86 | 209 | 208 | 5,658 | 178* | 5 | 34 | 27.73 |
53 | Younis Khan | Pakistan | 578 | 56 | 265 | 255 | 7,249 | 144 | 7 | 48 | 31.24 |
54 | Brendon McCullum | New Zealand | 577 | 200 | 260 | 228 | 6,083 | 166 | 5 | 32 | 30.41 |
55 | Mushfiqur Rahim | Bangladesh | 577 | 92 | 251 | 234 | 7,257 | 144 | 9 | 45 | 37.21 |
56 | Shane Watson | Australia | 570 | 131 | 190 | 169 | 5,757 | 185* | 9 | 33 | 40.54 |
57 | Gautam Gambhir | India | 561 | 17 | 147 | 143 | 5,238 | 150* | 11 | 34 | 39.68 |
58 | Grant Flower | Zimbabwe | 557 | 37 | 221 | 214 | 6,571 | 142* | 6 | 40 | 33.52 |
59 | Richie Richardson | West Indies | 541 | 54 | 224 | 217 | 6,248 | 122 | 5 | 44 | 33.41 |
60 | Andrew Flower | Zimbabwe | 532 | 26 | 213 | 208 | 6,786 | 145 | 4 | 55 | 35.34 |
61 | Aaron Finch | Australia | 532 | 129 | 146 | 142 | 5,406 | 153* | 17 | 30 | 38.89 |
62 | Ijaz Ahmed | Pakistan | 531 | 87 | 250 | 232 | 6,564 | 139* | 10 | 37 | 32.33 |
63 | Steve Waugh | Australia | 530 | 68 | 325 | 288 | 7,569 | 120* | 3 | 45 | 32.90 |
64 | ME Trescothick | England | 528 | 41 | 123 | 122 | 4,335 | 137 | 12 | 21 | 37.37 |
65 | Marlon Samuels | West Indies | 526 | 118 | 207 | 196 | 5,606 | 133* | 10 | 30 | 32.97 |
66 | Ian Bell | England | 525 | 32 | 161 | 157 | 5,416 | 141 | 4 | 35 | 37.87 |
67 | Arjuna Ranatunga | Sri Lanka | 523 | 64 | 269 | 255 | 7,456 | 131* | 4 | 49 | 35.84 |
68 | Saleem Malik | Pakistan | 514 | 34 | 283 | 256 | 7,170 | 102 | 5 | 47 | 32.88 |
69 | Jason Roy | England | 511 | 81 | 116 | 110 | 4,271 | 180 | 12 | 21 | 39.91 |
70 | Allan Border | Australia | 500 | 43 | 273 | 252 | 6,524 | 127* | 3 | 39 | 30.62 |
Sachin Tendulkar – Master Blaster’s Four-Hitting Prowess
Sachin Tendulkar, fondly known as the “Master Blaster,” holds the record for the most fours in ODI cricket history. The legendary Indian batsman’s ability to time the ball effortlessly and pierce gaps in the field is unparalleled. Over his illustrious career, he played a staggering 463 matches for India and sent the ball racing to the boundary on 2016 occasions, making him the batsman with the highest fours in ODI cricket.
Sanath Jayasuriya – Sri Lanka’s Explosive Opener
Sanath Jayasuriya, the explosive Sri Lankan opener, revolutionized the way powerplays were approached in ODI cricket. He was an aggressive batsman who could dismantle any bowling attack with ease. Jayasuriya amassed 1500 fours in his 445-match career, earning him a spot among the batsmen with the highest fours in ODI cricket.
Kumar Sangakkara – A Classy Stroke Maker
Kumar Sangakkara was a stylish left-handed batsman who played some of the most elegant cricket shots. His ability to find gaps and place the ball precisely made him a four-hitting machine. In his 404 ODI matches for Sri Lanka, Sangakkara struck 1385 fours, solidifying his place among the cricketers with the highest fours in ODI cricket.
Ricky Ponting – The Australian Run-Machine
Ricky Ponting, the former Australian captain, was known for his aggressive brand of cricket. He could dominate bowlers and compile big scores consistently. Over the course of 375 matches, Ponting hit 1231 fours, securing his position among the batsmen with the highest fours in ODI cricket.
Virat Kohli – The Modern Master
Virat Kohli, the current Indian captain, is a modern-day cricketing genius. With his strong technique and incredible fitness, he has taken the art of chasing targets to a new level. Kohli’s ability to find the boundary regularly has earned him 1211 fours in just 260 matches, making him one of the batsmen with the highest fours in ODI cricket.
Adam Gilchrist – The Dynamic Wicketkeeper-Batsman
Adam Gilchrist redefined the role of wicketkeeper-batsman in ODI cricket. He combined explosive power-hitting with excellent glovework behind the stumps. Gilchrist scored 1162 fours in 287 matches, leaving a significant impact on the game and becoming one of the batsmen with the most fours in ODI cricket.
Virender Sehwag – The Sultan of Multan
Virender Sehwag, known as the “Sultan of Multan” for his historic triple century in a Test match against Pakistan, was a fearless batsman who attacked the bowlers from the very first ball. In his 251 ODI matches for India, Sehwag struck 1132 fours, showcasing his aggressive and entertaining style of play.
Chris Gayle – The Universe Boss
Chris Gayle, the West Indian powerhouse, is revered for his ability to clear the boundary at will. Known as the “Universe Boss,” Gayle’s towering sixes are famous around the world. Alongside his six-hitting prowess, he has also scored 1128 fours in 300 ODI matches, earning him a place among the batsmen with the most fours in ODI cricket.
Sourav Ganguly – The Dada of Indian Cricket
Sourav Ganguly, affectionately called “Dada,” is credited with building a competitive Indian cricket team. He was an elegant left-handed batsman who could elegantly place the ball to the boundary. Ganguly hit 1122 fours in his 311 ODI matches, showcasing his ability to score all around the wicket.
Rohit Sharma – The Hitman of Indian Cricket
Rohit Sharma, the “Hitman” of Indian cricket, is known for his impeccable timing and incredible ability to convert centuries into mammoth scores. In his 231 ODI matches for India, Sharma has struck 1098 fours, making him one of the batsmen with the highest fours in ODI cricket.
FAQs About Most Fours in ODI Cricket
How did Sachin Tendulkar become the highest four in ODI history?
Sachin Tendulkar’s success as the highest four-scorer in ODI history can be attributed to his exceptional technique, hand-eye coordination, and deep understanding of the game. He had the ability to read the bowlers’ variations and consistently find gaps in the field, placing the ball precisely to the boundary.
Which player has the most fours in a single ODI inning?
Rohit Sharma holds the record for most fours in a single ODI inning, with 33 fours in his 264-run knock against Sri Lanka in 2014. He also holds the record for most runs in an ODI inning, with 264 runs.
Who has the highest strike rate among the top ten four-scorers?
The batsman with the highest strike rate among the top ten four-scorers in ODI cricket is Chris Gayle. Gayle has a strike rate of 86.23, which is significantly higher than the strike rates of the other top ten four-scorers.