Cricket in Numbers: The Unstoppable Batters with Most 50+ Knocks

Whether it is the all-time legend such as Sachin Tendulkar or to modern-day legend like Virat Kohli, these players have shown that the game is not just about scoring runs, it is about consistency and reliability. In this blog, we will be taking a look at the batsmen with the most 50+ knocks in international cricket.

Rank	Player	50+ Scores in International Cricket
1	Sachin Tendulkar	264
2	Virat Kohli	226
3	Ricky Ponting	217
4	Kumar Sangakkara	216
5	Jacques Kallis	211

Sachin Tendulkar

There might be no cricket record in terms of batsmen where you will not find the name of Sachin Tendulkar. The Master Blaster ruled the game for decades, which allowed him to etch his name in the history books across every record. Even when it comes to the most 50+ scores in international cricket, Sachin Tendulkar is at the top of the list with 264.

Format	Matches	Innings	Runs	Average	Strike Rate	100s	50s
Tests	200	329	15,921	53.78	–	51	68
ODIs	463	452	18,426	44.83	86.23	49	96
T20Is	1	1	10	10.00	83.33	0	0

This level of consistency remains unmatched in today’s cricket, which can be noted with the fact that no player has touched the 250 mark in this milestone. Only Virat Kohli is coming close to Tendulkar, but he would still require 38 50+ scores to level his mark. And it should be noted that Virat is nearing his retirement, which makes it impossible for him to break this record.

Tendulkar retired as the greatest of all time, setting standards for all the players who came after him. He played with the stars of his generation and even the modern stars, which shows the level of consistency he put into the game. In the Test format, Tendulkar holds the record for having the most centuries, scoring 51 tons in the longest format of the game.

Breaking his record in the Tests and ODIs has been near impossible for any modern-day player. In the ODI format, Tendulkar still tops the run-scoring charts, being the only batsman to have scored 18,000 runs in one format of the game. Despite several players dominating in the 50-over format, it is still not possible for them to break the record which has been set by Tendulkar.

Virat Kohli

Sachin Tendulkar is closely followed in every record by the one who admired him the most, Virat Kohli. Ever since the retirement of The Master Blaster, his legacy has been carried forward in the Indian team by the King. Virat Kohli has also managed to break a number of records in the game, which were earlier held by Tendulkar to his name.

Format	Matches	Innings	Runs	Average	Strike Rate	100s	50s
Tests	123	210	9,230	46.85	55.57	30	31
ODIs	305	293	14,255	57.71	93.26	51	75
T20Is	125	117	4,188	48.69	137.04	1	38

Standing behind Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli has made 226 50+ scores across all formats. It should be noted that he was an active part of the Indian team across all three formats of the game, which puts him among the modern-day legends. Although he has retired from T20Is and Tests, he still continues to show his consistency in the only format he plays, the ODIs.

With his average in the ODI format standing at 57.71, this shows his consistency in the same format. Along with that, Virat Kohli also holds the record for having the most centuries in this format, taking over the record of Sachin Tendulkar. If Kohli brings up another ODI ton, he will be able to get a record to his name for having the most centuries in one format of the game.

Virat Kohli has been the stalwart of the current generation, setting high standards for the youngsters. Even in the fast-paced T20I format, he maintained his scoring rate, managing to retire with 39 50+ scores in this format in just 117 innings. Moreover, his form in the T20 World Cup tournaments can never be forgotten by any fan, as Kohli tops the charts when it comes to the same.

Ricky Ponting

After two Indian stars, Ricky Ponting, the greatest Australian captain, holds the third place in this list. He has made 217 50+ scores across all formats of the game. Not only has Ponting been the greatest batsman for Australia, but he has also been the best captain the team has ever had in history.

Format	Matches	Innings	Runs	Average	Strike Rate	100s	50s
Tests	168	287	13,378	51.85	58.72	41	62
ODIs	375	365	13,704	42.03	80.39	30	82
T20Is	17	16	401	28.64	132.78	0	2

Whether he played in Australia or in any other country, Ponting made sure to score runs for his team. This could also be the reason there has been no Australian batsman who has been able to reach close to the mark he has created. While Ponting remains a coach across the T20 leagues taking place around the world, his contributions to the Australian team can never be forgotten.

It should be noted that Ricky Ponting also holds the record of most matches as a skipper in the ODI format, with 230 matches leading the team. With the bat, he was vital for Australia in the World Cup matches. Ponting is the only skipper to have led his team to win consecutive World Cup titles, which makes him successful not only in Australia but even across international cricket.

While his records as a batsman could be broken, his records as a captain remain iconic and ever challenging to every player to step up in the game. He is known to be the major reason behind the Aussie mentality we see today. Ponting had also scored 6 double centuries for the Australian team in the Test format, showcasing his remarkable consistency in his career.

Kumar Sangakkara

The Sri Lankan team is also known for producing the best batsmen all around the world. And one of them has also made it to the list of most 50+ scores across all formats of the game, which is Kumar Sangakkara. The wicket-keeper batsman has been the key to the team’s dominance across all countries. He even led Sri Lanka to the finals of the World Cup 2011, played in India.

Format	Matches	Innings	Runs	Average	Strike Rate	100s	50s
Tests	134	233	12,400	57.40	54.19	38	52
ODIs	404	380	14,234	41.98	78.86	25	93
T20Is	56	53	1,382	31.40	119.55	0	8

Even after his retirement, it has been a decade, but no batsman from the country has stepped up to come even close to the record set by Kumar Sangakkara. He also has the record for having the most runs in ODI and Test formats for the Sri Lankan team, which showcases his remarkable consistency in the game. After stepping down as a skipper from the ODIs and T20Is, he played for Sri Lanka till 2015.

He was a part of the Sri Lankan team which won the T20 World Cup 2014, ending their wait to win a T20 title. Among all the greats of the previous generation, Sangakkara remains one of the who even played the T20 format. Even in the shortest format of the game, he maintained consistency while scoring runs for the team.

Most of the records created by him are in the Test format. Sangakkara holds the record for having the most consecutive 50+ scores in Test innings, as he scored 7 consecutive 50+ scores for the team. Along with that, one of his records, which remains tough to even come close is the highest third wicket partnership, where he partnered with Mahela Jayawardene to score 624 runs.

Jacques Kallis

In the list where all the players are proper batsmen or wicket-keepers, there is one all-rounder too. And it is none other than the Proteas legend, Jacques Kallis. He has been able to dominate for the South African team with both bat and ball, being the most reliable and consistent player across all formats of the game.

Format	Matches	Innings	Runs	Average	Strike Rate	100s	50s
Tests	166	280	13,289	55.37	45.97	45	58
ODIs	328	314	11,579	44.36	72.89	17	86
T20Is	25	23	666	35.05	119.35	0	5

Kallis stands tall for the South African team in the Test format, where he has scored 45 centuries and 58 half-centuries. He became one of the major reasons why the Proteas were able to dominate across each and every country they played. Along with that, he also ensured to contribute to the team with his bowling skills, making him the perfect all-rounder in the history of the game.

It should be noted that the record of having the most Player of the Match awards is held by Jacques Kallis. In the 166 Test matches he played across his career, Kallis was able to receive this award in 23 of them. This is a record which remains tough to achieve by any batsman who has his name in this list.

Not only in the Tests, Jacques Kallis even dominated in the ODI format of the game. Being a middle-order batsman for South Africa, he notched up 17 centuries in this format, being the player with the highest international centuries in the South African cricket team. Along with that, Kallis also holds numerous records with the ball.