Top 5 Players With Most 2000+ Runs In A Calendar Year
Virat Kohli surpasses Kumar Sangakkara to become the first batter to score 2000+ runs 7 times
The records are meant to be broken and in modern-day cricket, the modern-day greats are breaking records of the cricketing legends every other day. Whether it was the record for most runs in a World Cup season or the record for the fastest World Cup century, the year 2023 has been a record-breaking year.
When it comes to breaking records, Virat Kohli, the greatest among the current players has been on top. In the ongoing Test series against South Africa, Virat Kohli crossed the mark of 2000 international runs in a calendar year for the seventh time in the history of cricket.
The right-hander with his consistency, broke the record of Sri Lankan southpaw, Kumar Sangakkara, who has smashed 2000+ international runs six times throughout his cricketing year. OneCricket recognises the players with the most times 2000+ runs in a calendar year.
Let's look at the top 5 players with the most 2000+ international runs in a calendar year.
Virat Kohli (India) - 7 Times
Virat Kohli (X.com)
The India team over the years have produced many greats, who have aced all the conditions and Virat Kohli is turning his career into becoming the greatest of all time with his record breaking performances. Recently, he surpassed Sachin Tendulkar to become the only batter with 50 ODI hundreds.
The year 2023 has been nothing short of exemplary for the right-hander, as he went on to score 765 runs in a single World Cup addition which is the most by any player in the histpry of cricket. Now, in the ongoing Test series, he crossed the 2000-run mark of the year 2023 and became the first batter to smash 2000+ runs in a single calendar year for seven times, as he scored 76 in his last innings of the year 2023.
Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) - 6 Times
Kumar Sangakkara (X.com)
The Sri Lankan southpaw, Kumar Sangakkara has been one of a kind in the international cricket, not only among the Sri Lankans but he is considered as one of the greatest batters of all time. In his international career, he has smashed over 28000 runs in his 16 years long interntional career.
Throughout his career, he was consistent enough to hammer 2000+ runs six times in a calendar year and was on the top of this record until Virat Kohli surpassed him to become the number one. In the years 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2013 were the years, where he smashed over 2000 runs in international cricket and made his career a great one.
Sachin Tendulkar (India) - 5 Times
Sachin Tendulkar (X.com)
There's hardly any record of batting that doesn't include the Indian giant, Sachin Tendulkar. He has been the greatest cricketer of all time with over 34000 international runs including 100 international centuries. No wonder why he is known as the God of Cricket.
Virat Kohli is on Sachin's path to become another giant produced by Indian cricket and has already surpassed him in few records. In his 24 years long international career, Sachin has hammered 2000 plus international runs five times and comes third on this list. In the years 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, and 2007, Sachin was the top scorers from India at the greates level scoring 2000+ runs across formats in these years.
Mahela Jayawardena (Sri Lanka) - 5 Times
Mahela Jayawardena (X.com)
A prolific Sri Lankan right-handed batter, Mahela Jayawardena was another stalwart of international cricket. With nearly 26000 international runs, Jayawardena nailed all the formats and established a name for himself at the greatest stage of the game. He comes right after Sachin Tendulkar, when it comes to scoring 2000 plus runs in a calendar year.
In the years 2001, 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2013, Jayawardena was among the highest scoring scorers in international cricket, smashing over 2000 runs in all these years. The year 2001 was the best year, he's ever had scoring over 2300 runs in a single calendar year.
Jacques Kallis (South Africa) - 4 Times
Jacques Kallis (X.com)
The only player outside Asia, who has smashed 2000 runs four or more times in a calendar year is from South Africa, Jacques Kallis. The right-handed batter with the skill set to bowl right-arm medium, Kallis was among the greatest all rounders in the history of cricket. With over 25000 international runs, Kallis was prolific in both the departments for the Proteas.
The all-rounder from South Africa has been one of kind and undoubtedly the best. He smashed over 2000 plus runs in the years 2000, 2004, 2007 and 2010. With his exceptional career and consistency, he comes fifth on this list and is the only non-asian player.
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