As the curtains fall on the cricketing calendar of 2025, a new king of runs has been crowned. India's captain across Tests and ODIs, Shubman Gill, will finish the year as the highest run-getter in international cricket, amassing a monumental total across all three formats.
A Nail-Biting Finish for the Top Spot
Gill's ascent to the pinnacle was marked by an incredibly close contest. He pipped the prolific West Indies batsman Shai Hope by a mere four runs to claim the annual honour. Gill aggregated 1764 runs from 42 innings in 35 matches, averaging an impressive 49. Hope, who played 42 matches, scored 1760 runs at an average of 40.
This achievement underscores Gill's remarkable consistency and his successful transition into a leadership role. His year was particularly defined by a sensational performance during India's Test tour of England. Leading the side for the first time in a full series, Gill inspired a 2-2 draw and was named Player of the Series for his 754 runs, which included a double century and four hundreds. He became the first Indian captain to score a double hundred in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries.
Format-Wise Leaders Emerge
Delving into the individual formats, Gill also emerged as the leading run-scorer in Test cricket for 2025. He compiled 983 runs at a staggering average of 70.21, well ahead of his peers.
In the 50-over arena, the experienced England batsman Joe Root demonstrated his class. Root finished as the highest run-getter in ODIs with 808 runs at an average of 57.71. This performance also placed him third in the overall international runs list for the year, behind only Gill and Hope. Root also solidified his standing as the second-highest run-scorer in Test cricket history, behind the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
The T20I landscape witnessed a surprise package. Austria's Karanbir Singh stunned the cricketing world by finishing as the top run-scorer in the shortest format, amassing a whopping 1488 runs. Among players from Test-playing nations, India's explosive opener Abhishek Sharma led the charge. The left-hander smashed 859 runs in just 21 innings at a breathtaking strike rate of 193.46.
Top Performers Across Formats in 2025
Leading Test Run-Scorers:
- Shubman Gill (IND): 983 runs, Avg 70.21
- Travis Head (AUS): 817 runs, Avg 40.85
- KL Rahul (IND): 813 runs, Avg 45.16
Leading ODI Run-Scorers:
- Joe Root (ENG): 808 runs, Avg 57.71
- Daryl Mitchell (NZ): 761 runs, Avg 54.35
- George Munsey (SCO): 735 runs, Avg 73.50
Leading T20I Run-Scorers:
- Karanbir Singh (AUT): 1488 runs, Avg 51.31
- Fiaz Ahmed (BHR): 1251 runs, Avg 50.04
- Abhishek Sharma (IND): 859 runs, Avg 42.95
Overall International Run-Scorers (Combined):
- Shubman Gill (IND): 1764 runs
- Shai Hope (WI): 1760 runs
- Joe Root (ENG): 1613 runs
A Year of Dominant Batting
The 2025 run charts highlight a year of extraordinary batting feats across the globe. From Gill's authoritative leadership and run-making in Tests to Root's ODI mastery and the emergence of Associate nation stars like Karanbir Singh in T20Is, the narrative was rich and varied. These statistics not only celebrate individual brilliance but also set the stage for an exciting 2026, where these champions will look to defend their lofty standards.
