Who Is the Highest All Time Run Scorer in World Cup History?

The Cricket World Cup is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the sport of cricket. Every four years, the best teams from around the world come together to compete for the title of World Champion. The tournament has produced several legendary players over the years, and one of the most coveted records in World Cup history is that of the highest run-scorer.

Sachin Tendulkar – The Master Blaster

When it comes to run-scoring in World Cups, one name stands head and shoulders above the rest – Sachin Tendulkar. The Indian batting maestro is widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time, and his performances in World Cups only enhance his reputation.

Tendulkar made his World Cup debut in 1992 at the age of 18 and went on to feature in six tournaments over a span of 20 years. In total, he scored a staggering 2,278 runs from 45 matches at an average of 56.95 and a strike rate of 88.98.

The Journey to Becoming Highest Run Scorer

Tendulkar’s journey to becoming the highest run-scorer in World Cup history was a long and arduous one. He had a relatively quiet start to his World Cup career, scoring just 283 runs from eight matches in his first two tournaments combined.

However, he came into his own at the 1996 tournament held in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Tendulkar amassed 523 runs from seven matches at an average of 87.16 with two centuries and three half-centuries to his name. He was instrumental in India’s journey to the semi-finals before they were knocked out by Sri Lanka.

Tendulkar continued to dominate opposition bowlers in subsequent tournaments as well. He scored 673 runs from eleven matches at an average of 61.18 in the 2003 World Cup held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya. He was the top run-scorer of the tournament and played a significant role in India’s journey to the final, where they were beaten by Australia.

In his final World Cup appearance in 2011, Tendulkar scored 482 runs from nine matches at an average of 53.55 with two centuries and two half-centuries to his name. He was once again instrumental in India’s triumph in the tournament, scoring crucial runs throughout the knockout stages.

  • World Cup
  • Matches Played
  • Runs Scored
  • Average
  • Strike Rate
  • 1992
  • 7
  • 283
  • 47.16
  • 84.75
  • The Legacy of Sachin Tendulkar

    Sachin Tendulkar retired from international cricket in 2013 after an illustrious career spanning over two decades. He is regarded as one of the greatest batsmen to have ever played the game and has several records to his name.

    His feat of being the highest run-scorer in World Cup history is one that may never be broken given how difficult it is to play across six tournaments over a span of twenty years at such a consistently high level.

    In conclusion, Sachin Tendulkar’s performances in World Cups were nothing short of extraordinary, and his record as the highest run-scorer is a testament to his greatness as a cricketer.