Top 10 Most Fours in ODIs | By Team & By Player

Boundaries in limited-overs cricket hold much significance, acting as momentum-shifters and run accelerators. They not only contribute to the team's total but also apply pressure on the opposition.

Sachin Tendulkar is widely recognized as one of the best ODI batsmen in cricket history. He not only boasts the highest run tally in the format but also holds the record for the most fours in ODI cricket.

Take a look at the list of the top 10 batters with the most fours in ODI cricket history. 

Most Fours in ODIs by Players

India batter Sachin Tendulkar not only holds the record for the highest run-scorer in 50-over cricket, but also holds the record for the most fours in ODI (2016), and most fours in ODI in a calendar year (192).

Following closely is Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya, with 1500 fours to his name. Boasting 28 centuries and the record for the highest ODI innings by a Sri Lankan batter (189 runs against India at Sharjah in 2000). Kumar Sangakkara, another stalwart of Sri Lanka cricket, hit 1385 fours. His career spanned from 2000 to 2015, during which he amassed 14,234 runs in 404 matches at an average of over 41.

Modern-day cricketing maestro Virat Kohli, claims the fourth spot with 1294 fours. Kohli has scored 13,848 runs at an impressive average of 58.67. Meanwhile, Australian legends Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist, with 1231 and 1162 fours, hold the fifth and sixth spot, respectively.

Virender Sehwag amassed 1132 boundaries in his ODI career while notching up 8,273 runs at a strike rate of 104.33. West Indies' Chris Gayle, with 1128 fours, solidified his status as one of the most destructive batsmen in ODI history. Gayle has scored 10,425 runs at an average of 38.04.

Sourav Ganguly, with 1122 fours, is ninth on the list of the most fours in ODI. A former captain and prolific batsman, Ganguly's career spanned from 1992 to 2007, during which he scored 11,363 runs at an average of 40.73. Rounding off the top 10 is Sri Lankan legend Mahela Jayawardene, who collected 1119 fours during his ODI career from 1998 to 2015, amassing over 12,650 runs in 448 matches.

Most Fours in an ODI Innings by a Team

Sri Lanka holds the record for most fours in ODI innings by a team (56). Against the Netherlands in 2006, the Jayawardene-led side posted a mammoth total of 443 – 9 and went on to win by 195 runs. Jayasuriya and Tillakaratne Dilshan scored centuries.

Next on the list is India, who scored 418 – 5 against the West Indies in 2011 in Indore. India’s innings was laced with 48 fours, 25 of which were scored by Sehwag, who produced a remarkable innings of 219 runs from 149 balls. India won the match by 153 runs.

On the third spot is Australia, who posted 392 – 8 against South Africa in September 2023. Of the 48 fours hit by them, 19 came off Marnus Labuschagne’s bat. Labuschagne scored a 99-ball 124 to help Australia win by 123 runs.

Fourth and fifth on the list are India and New Zealand. India hit 47 boundaries in their total of 404 for 5 against Sri Lanka in Kolkata. Rohit Sharma (173-ball 264), hit 33 fours. New Zealand, meanwhile, scored 401 – 6 against Pakistan at the 2023 Cricket World Cup. Their innings saw a total of 46 boundaries, of which 15 came off centurion Rachin Ravindra’s bat. However, Pakistan won the match via the DLS method.

Scotland and South Africa each scored 45 boundaries and are at the sixth and seventh spots, respectively on the list of most fours in the ODI match by team. Scotland beat England by six runs after defending 371, while the Proteas defended 428 against Sri Lanka. Each of Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram scored a century. 
England in 2005 and South Africa in 2006, each scored 44 boundaries in their respective wins over Bangladesh and Australia. For England, Andrew Strauss hit 19 boundaries in his 128-ball 152. For South Africa, Herschelle Gibbs stole the show with his 111-ball 175, laced with 21 boundaries.

On the tenth spot is Sri Lanka. The Arjuna Ranatunga-led side defeated Kenya by 144 runs at the 1996 World Cup, after scoring 398 for 5, including 43 fours. The top run-scorer was Aravinda de Silva, with a 115-ball 145 laced with 14 boundaries. 

Most Fours in an ODI Innings by a Player

Rohit Sharma holds the record for most fours in ODI innings by a player. He found the boundary 33 times in his 173-ball 264 against Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens in 2014. Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag are in the second and third spots with 25 boundaries each. Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 200 off 147 against South Africa in Gwalior in 2010, while Sehwag’s 149-ball 219 came against the West Indies in Indore in 2011.

Next on the list are Sanath Jayasuriya (104-ball 157), Martin Guptill (163-ball 237*), David Warner (136-ball 173), Fakhar Zaman (156-ball 210*) and Ishan Kishan (131-ball 210), all of whom have hit 24 fours in an ODI innings.

Ninth on the list is Calum Macleod, who scored a 164-ball 157*, including 23 fours, against Afghanistan in 2018. Rounding off the top 10 is Saeed Anwar, who hit 22 fours in his knock of 194 against India in Chennai in 1997.