Rohit Sharma has achieved a monumental milestone by crossing 20,000 runs in international cricket, becoming only the fourth Indian batter in history to do so. The achievement, recorded in Visakhapatnam during India’s chase of 271 against South Africa in the final ODI of the three-match series, reinforces his status as one of India’s greatest ever white-ball players.
বিশাখাপত্তনমে চতুর্থ ভারতীয় ব্যাটার হিসাবে ইতিহাসে লিখলেন ‘হিটম্যান’
Joining India’s Most Elite Batting Club
With this milestone, Rohit now stands alongside:
Sachin Tendulkar
Virat Kohli
Rahul Dravid
Rohit reached the landmark in just 538 innings, showcasing a remarkable combination of consistency, an average above 42, and a superb strike rate—numbers that surpass many other members of the 20,000-run club.
India’s Top Run-Scorers in International Cricket
Sachin Tendulkar – 34,357 runs (664 matches)
Virat Kohli – 27,910 runs (556 matches)
Rahul Dravid – 24,064 runs (504 matches)
Rohit Sharma – 20,580 runs (505 matches)
Sourav Ganguly – 18,433 runs
MS Dhoni – 17,092 runs
Rohit also has 50 international hundreds, the third most by an Indian.
A White-Ball Giant
A dominant force in limited-overs cricket, Rohit has amassed:
11,000+ ODI runs
4,300+ Test runs
4,231 T20I runs (India’s highest in the format)
Since making his ODI debut in 2007, Rohit’s journey has been defined by transformation. Initially inconsistent and often under pressure to retain his spot, he blossomed after moving to the top of the order in 2013.
Record-Breaker and Modern-Day Great
Rohit has rewritten the record books:
The only player with three ODI double centuries
Holder of the highest individual ODI score — 264 vs Sri Lanka (2014)
Five centuries in the 2019 Cricket World Cup, the most in a single edition
His aggressive style revolutionized India’s white-ball batting. He led India to the 2023 ODI World Cup final, and although the title slipped away, he redeemed himself by guiding India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Mt. 2⃣0⃣k ⛰️
Congratulations to Rohit Sharma on becoming just the 4th Indian cricketer to amass 2⃣0⃣,0⃣0⃣0⃣ runs in international cricket 🫡
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/HM6zm9o7bm#TeamIndia | #INDvSA | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @ImRo45 pic.twitter.com/S3nRb8ve5w
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 6, 2025
Test Renaissance
Rohit’s Test career witnessed a dramatic resurgence after he began opening in 2019. He flourished across two World Test Championship cycles, becoming one of the most reliable Test openers in world cricket before retiring from the format in 2025 after a dip in form.
A Legend in the Final Phase of His Career
Now past 35 but still performing at the highest level, Rohit continues to thrive under pressure. His career is a testament to perseverance: extraordinary talent backed by maturity, adaptability, and the ability to deliver when it matters most.
There remains one unfulfilled dream — the ODI World Cup title, which he may get another shot at in 2027. Given his current form, dropping him seems almost unimaginable.
With 20,000 international runs, Rohit Sharma is not just a prolific run-scorer—he is a transformative figure in Indian cricket. His dominance in white-ball formats, his record-shattering innings, and his leadership have secured his place among India’s all-time greats. His journey reminds us that while many have talent, only true legends rise above pressure to define an era.