List of Players who reached Fastest 3000 Runs in ODI cricket

Top 10 Players to Reach Fastest 3000 ODI Runs

11. Jonny Bairstow (72 innings)

Jonny Bairstow is the 11th fastest to 3000 runs in ODI cricket. Bairstow reached the milestone in 72 innings and is the joint-fastest English to score 3000 runs in ODIs. He was named the Player of the Match against Ireland for his knock of 82 runs as he reached the milestone. The opening batter from England has been responsible for forging one of the best partnerships at the top of the order with Jason Roy. Bairstow played a crucial role in England winning their first ODI World Cup in 2019 where he was the second-highest scorer for his team. In 11 innings, the opening batter scored 532 runs which included two tons. 

The wicketkeeper batter always faced tough competition for his spot behind the stumps because of Jos Buttler. However, his prolific run-scoring in domestic cricket forced the selectors to hand him a regular place in the England setup. He repaid the faith shown in him and during a period from 2017 to 2019, the batter from Yorkshire was at his best. During these three years, Bairstow made more than 2,400 runs at an average of 53.4. 

10. Joe Root (72 innings)

Since his first few matches in international cricket, Joe Root was earmarked for greatness by fellow teammates and past English cricketers. The 33-year-old proved those who believed in him right by breaking multiple records in both ODIs and test cricket. Root is the 10th fastest to 3000 runs in ODIs. The right-handed batter took 72 innings to reach the milestone. During the most successful period of the English team, the batters played an aggressive brand of cricket. Root, on the other hand, was the glue that held all the stroke-makers together and forged partnerships with each of them.

After the horrific 2015 World Cup campaign, the English team was under immense pressure. When the 2019 World Cup came the hosts were the favorites to go all the way. Root stepped up in the tournament and scored 556 runs and England went on to win the cup for the first time in their history. Like Bairstow, Root too had a purple patch period in the 50 overs, however, unlike the wicketkeeper batter, Root’s patch lasted from 2014 to 2019. During these six years, the former English captain made 5,230 runs at an average of 53.36.

9. Shikhar Dhawan (72 innings)

Shikhar Dhawan is the fastest Indian batter to score 3000 runs in ODI cricket. He reached the milestone in 72 innings. Dhawan played a knock of 126 runs in 113 balls to reach 3000 runs, however, it came in a losing cause. The left-handed opener had a great start to his career that included the 2013 Champions Trophy. In the tournament, Dhawan was the highest run-getter as well as the Player of the Series. Like a few greats of the game, the left-handed opener would save his best performances for the ICC tournaments. In the years of ODI World Cups or the Champions Trophy, not many batters from the Indian cricket team would score more consistently than Dhawan. 

His rise to international cricket was not easy. Before 2013 it appeared that the left-handed opener might never get a regular place playing for the ‘Men in Blue’. However, after a record-breaking test debut and a drastic fall in the form of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, Dhawan was given his due in the ODI team. Dhawan took to ODIs like a duck takes to water. In 2013, Dhawan made 1,162 runs at an average of more than 50 and ended his career with 6,793 runs at an average of 44.

8. Gary Kirsten (72 innings)

Gary Kirsten is fondly remembered as the only South African to win the ODI World Cup albeit as a coach. The left-hander batter is the 8th fastest to 3000 runs in ODI cricket. He reached the milestone in 72 innings in 1997. A year before in 1996, Kirsten scored 1,442 runs and at that time held the record for the third-most runs scored in a calendar year. While Kirsten did not have the flair his contemporaries possessed, the opening batter made it up with his heightened concentration.

Kirsten started his career with a couple of single-digit scores and scored his first century in just his sixth innings. However, the Proteas batter had to wait for almost two years for his second ton. In 1996, Kirsten made six centuries. Most of the matches owing to the World Cup in the year came in Asia. Unlike other touring batters, Kirsten enjoyed most of his success on the continent.

7. Gordon Greenidge (72 innings)

Gordon Greenidge is 7th fastest to 3000 runs in ODI cricket. Like most batters from the West Indies, Greenidge relied heavily on his strokeplay. The right-handed batter from Barbados would pack a range of powerful shots. However, Greenidge was among the slowest while running between the wickets. Many would argue that he did not need to run fast thanks to shot-making. His ODI career started with the inaugural ODI World Cup. The debut against Pakistan accounted only for four runs. Interestingly, it was against Pakistan that Greenidge reached the milestone of 3000 with a knock of 67 runs.

Between the 1975 and 1979 World Cups, Greenidge only played five ODI matches. However, he looked like a much-improved player in his second World Cup. The opening batter scored his first century against India in the opening match of the tournament. He followed the ton with two fifty-plus scores. Greenidge played great knocks regularly at the top of the order and became a crucial part of West Indies’ success in the 1980s.

6. Viv Richards (69 innings)

Viv Richards is the 6th fastest to 3000 runs in ODI cricket. He reached the milestone in 69 innings. The two-time World Cup winner retired as the best batter in ODIs from his generation. Playing in an era where run-scoring was tough and the average run rate used to be around 4 runs per over, Richards found batting too easy. To his advantage, Sir Viv did not have to face the daunting bowling attack of his team. Richards would come to bat with a reputation of being a dangerous batter to bowl to. The great bowling attacks of the time would often feel depleted even before the legendary batter from the West Indies played his first ball.

It is only a shame that ODI cricket during Richards’ generation was not played as often as it was in the 1990s or the 2000s. He reached the milestone in only 69 innings, however, it took almost nine years since his debut to play these matches. But the lack of cricket did not stop Richards from owning the bowling attacks in different conditions. In Australia and England, where he played most of his matches, the right-handed batter averaged close to 50. It speaks of his skills that Richards could find his groove in different countries while striking at a speed faster than his contemporaries.

5. Babar Azam (68 innings)

Babar Azam is the 5th fastest to 3000 runs in ODI cricket. He reached the milestone in 68 innings. Pakistan is mostly known for producing fearsome fast bowlers which can be a nightmare for most batters. So when a batter like Babar makes his debut for the 1992 World Cup champions excitement among fans is bound to be generated. The right-handed batter is arguably the most technically gifted from the Asian country. With 19 tons to his name, Azam is only one short of equalling Saeed Anwar for most centuries for Pakistan.

In his second year playing ODIs, Azam scored 656 runs in 2016 while averaging close to 60. Barring a blip in his form in 2018, the right-handed top-order batter has bossed ODI cricket. He made eight centuries from 2016 to 2018. In 2019, during the ODI World Cup, Azam was the best batter of his team and scored 474 runs at an average of 67. However, the lack of support from other players meant that Pakistan missed out on qualifying for the semi-finals. During the tournament, he made a match-winning century against New Zealand and successfully chased down the target of 238 runs. He reached 3000 runs in the same match.

4. Imam-ul-Haq (67 innings)

Imam-ul-Haq is the 4th fastest to 3000 runs in ODI cricket. The Pakistani opening batter took 67 innings to reach the milestone and overtook his skipper, Babar Azam. After a great time in ODIs in 2022, Imam had a burden on his shoulders in 2023 with the Asia Cup and World Cup approaching. However, the left-handed batter failed to capitalize on the chances provided to him.

He scored 92 runs in three innings in the Asia Cup including a knock of 78 against Bangladesh. His horrid run continued in the mega-event as he scored 15 and 12 in the first two matches. The insignificant knock of 12 runs against Sri Lanka was the inning when he reached the milestone. Low scores in the World Cup meant that he was dropped from the team midway through the tournament.

3. Fakhar Zaman (67 innings)

Fakhar Zaman is the 3rd fastest to 3000 runs in ODI cricket. He reached the milestone in 67 innings. Unlike most crickets Zaman’s peak performance came in his debut series, the ICC Champions Trophy, 2017. There are arguments to be made that the left-handed opener for some reason was left to toil in the domestic for far too long. The Pakistani batting lineup without Zaman looked a few decades old in terms of their strike rate. Filled with classical players the Pakistani batters failed to cope with modern-day cricket and lacked the flair to hit boundaries.

However, with the inclusion of Zaman, the 1992 World Cup Champions received the much-needed power at the top of the order which they missed all these years. His strike rate was a treat to the sore eyes of the Pakistani fans. In 2017, Zaman’s inclusion at the top was the biggest reason for Pakistan’s triumph in the Champions Trophy. The opening batter has had immense success since his debut, but for some reason does not find a place in the ODI team of Pakistan in 2024. He ended 2023 with 864 runs in the year at an average of 50.8. Zaman reached the milestone with a special unbeaten knock of 180 against New Zealand in Rawalpindi.

2. Shai Hope (67 innings)

Shai Hope is the 2nd fastest to 3000 runs in ODI cricket. The West Indies’ batter reached the milestone in 67 innings. Hope’s nine years in ODIs have brought him a lot of success. The top-order was 23 years old when he was making his debut in the 50-over format. However, his young age did not stop him from succeeding against the experienced bowling attacks. The right-handed batter made 47 on his debut and a century in his second game to announce his arrival in some style.

However, a lean 2017 which saw the West Indies’ batter not make a single century raised a few doubts. He bounced back quickly and made 875 runs the following year hitting three centuries and half-centuries each. Then in 2019 people saw the best of the Barbados-born batter. In a tri-series against Bangladesh and Ireland, Hope made 470 runs in only five matches. He ended the year in the same fashion on a tour to India where a series against Afghanistan and India each resulted in two tons. Hope reached the milestone of 3000 runs against India with a knock of 42 runs.

1. Hashim Amla (57 innings)

Hashim Amla is the fastest to 3000 runs in ODI cricket. Amla reached the milestone in only 57 innings. The right-handed batter was a consistent performer for the Proteast at the top of the order. Amla’s ability to soak pressure was a skill that prevented the best of the bowlers from dismissing him even in the swinging and seaming conditions. He broke multiple records in the format and even became the fastest to 7000 runs in ODIs. In 2010, the South African batter enjoyed one of the best years a batter has had in both tests and ODIs. He scored 1058 runs in 15 innings during the year including five centuries and four half-centuries. Amla reached the ICC number 1 ranking in ODIs that year.

The opening batter scored three more centuries in 2011 and January 2012. However, what stood out among his hundreds was his consistency. When Amla was not scoring tons for fun he was grinding out in making half-centuries. Amla reached the milestone of scoring 3000 runs with a splendid one-man performance against England. The Durban-born batter made 150 runs where the highest score across both teams was 52 runs. Like he often did he made batting look easy during his course becoming the quickest to score 3000 runs in ODIs.

Fastest 3000 ODI Runs by Indian Players

Shikhar Dhawan is the fastest Indian to score 3000 runs in ODIs. The left-handed opening batter reached the milestone in only 72 innings. He is followed on the list by state teammate, Virat Kohli. The former Indian skipper is ranked second on the list as he reached the milestone in 75 innings. Navjot Singh Sidhu is the third-fastest Indian batter to score 3000 runs in the format. The former opening batter reached the milestone in 79 innings.

Other Indians to score 3000 runs in ODI cricket quickly include legendary batters like Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Dilip Vengsarkar, and Virender Sehwag.