Sachin Tendulkar was the first batsman to score 10,000 runs in One Day International (ODI) cricket. He reached the landmark on March 31, 2001, during India's ODI against Australia in Indore.
At the time, 10,000 ODI runs represented an extraordinary level of consistency and longevity. Tendulkar had already established himself as one of the world's leading batters, but becoming the first player to cross five figures gave the achievement a special place in cricket history.
Sachin Tendulkar Was the First to 10,000 ODI Runs
Tendulkar entered the third ODI against Australia needing 34 runs to reach 10,000 career ODI runs. He reached the milestone by hitting Shane Warne for a boundary towards long-off.
He went on to score a commanding 139 runs from 125 balls, helping India defeat Australia by 118 runs.
Sachin Tendulkar's 10,000th ODI Run
Detail | Information |
Player | Sachin Tendulkar |
Milestone | 10,000 ODI runs |
Date | March 31, 2001 |
Opponent | Australia |
Match | 3rd ODI |
Venue | Indore, India |
Bowler | Shane Warne |
Innings score | 139 off 125 balls |
The milestone was significant because Tendulkar reached it while still producing a match-defining innings. Rather than simply crossing the mark and falling soon after, he converted the opportunity into another century.
Fastest Players to 10,000 ODI Runs
Tendulkar was the first player to reach 10,000 ODI runs, but he is not the fastest to the landmark in terms of innings.
That record belongs to Virat Kohli, who reached 10,000 runs in just 205 innings in 2018. Kohli's achievement underlined how the growth of ODI cricket and changes in batting conditions had accelerated elite run-scoring.
Player | Country | Innings | Matches | Year |
Virat Kohli | India | 205 | 213 | 2018 |
Rohit Sharma | India | 241 | 248 | 2023 |
Sachin Tendulkar | India | 259 | 266 | 2001 |
Sourav Ganguly | India | 263 | 272 | 2005 |
Ricky Ponting | Australia | 266 | 272 | 2007 |
Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 272 | 282 | 2009 |
MS Dhoni | India | 273 | 320 | 2018 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the second player to score 10,000 ODI runs?
Sourav Ganguly became the second batsman to reach 10,000 ODI runs, achieving the milestone in August 2005 against Sri Lanka.
How many players have scored 10,000 ODI runs?
15 batsmen as having crossed the 10,000-run milestone in ODI cricket.
Who reached 10,000 ODI runs in the fewest innings?
Virat Kohli reached the landmark fastest, doing so in 205 innings in 2018. He reached 10,000 runs in his 213th ODI.
How many ODI runs did Sachin Tendulkar score?
Tendulkar finished his ODI career with 18,426 runs in 463 matches, including 49 centuries and 96 half-centuries. He remains the leading run-scorer in ODI history.
Who was the first non-Indian to score 10,000 ODI runs?
Ricky Ponting was the first non-Indian batsman to reach 10,000 ODI runs. The Australian reached the milestone during the 2007 World Cup against South Africa.
Can a middle-order batter score 10,000 ODI runs?
Yes. Batters do not need to open the innings to reach the landmark. Players such as MS Dhoni, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis accumulated substantial ODI run totals while primarily batting in the middle order.
Conclusion
Sachin Tendulkar was the first batsman to score 10,000 runs in ODI cricket, reaching the milestone on March 31, 2001, against Australia in Indore.
His achievement reflected more than longevity. Tendulkar combined technical skill, adaptability and sustained performance through an era of major changes in ODI cricket.
Virat Kohli later surpassed Tendulkar's record for the fastest journey to 10,000 runs by an innings, while other modern batters have also reached the landmark at a faster rate. Even so, Tendulkar's place as the first batsman to cross the 10,000-run barrier remains a defining moment in ODI history.
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