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Cricket's true essence is conveyed in the triumphs and talents of the bowlers but also through the big headlining acts of its batters; the majestic talents whose tall achievements drive home worldwide regards, conjure global fanbases and give stat keepers a ton of work to do. But it's not always that a generational talent comes around and scores heaps of runs in all parts of the world only to see a few more conjuring runs aplenty to contribute to a glowing list that reads something like- cricketers with most international runs before turning 25. And then, when you have some actual stalwarts of the game, without having to bandage the adjective in a lame manner, the end result is an eye-popping and glorious list that impresses as much as it inspires envy. Having said that, here is a list of legit achievers- cricketers with most international runs before turning 25 and it's one that has several nationalities tied together with one common threat. Batting greatness!
Let's look at a list of batsmen with the most runs in international Cricket before turning 25
1. Sachin Tendulkar (IND) - 11,074 Runs
The little genius, a giant of the game, a batting demigod, widely known as the "God", even worshipped in some circles of ardent cricket fans and an achiever on whose deeds not just his contemporaries from India, but even rivals marvel and to this day! Sachin Tendulkar, the table topper on the list of cricketers with 25000 runs in international cricket before turning 25, was born to bat.
The only human thus far to have hit a century of centuries in the game, the amazing right hander had already scored 11,074 international runs before the age of 25.
2. Kane Williamson (NZ) - 6,965 Runs
Graceful, gifted and glorious; you do really run out of adjectives in describing arguably the greatest New Zealander to have ever wielded a cricket bat in international cricket. But Kane Williamson does find himself on the elite list of cricketers with most international runs before turning 25. He had scored 6965 runs before the age of 25 and that's nearly 7,000 runs.
At the moment, the right handed batting legend's career stands next to north of 9200 Test runs, along with 7200 plus ODI runs.
It's a bit of a low, however, that he doesn't always play all formats of the game when it comes to New Zealand's national team and though, always graceful to watch, he supports the team currently led by leaders like Tom Latham and Mitch Santner.
3. Chris Gayle (WI) - 6,864 Runs
The 'Universe Boss', better known as Chris Gayle, arrived on the world stage during Lara and Chanderpaul's swansong years, a time where his good friend from Jamaica, Marlon Samuels was already in West Indies national team (the brother of Robert Samuels). And from 2002 onwards began the upward spiral of big six hitting that would birth the cult of the six-hitting machine whose prowess at tanking the big and even legendary fast bowlers and spinners alike would earn Gayle the tag of a dangerous hitter and his West Indies team, another hero to marvel at despite them going southwards (in terms of their standing in the sport).
Gayle's persisted for as long as he could have, hitting 2 career Test triple hundreds and the most number of ODI centuries for the West Indies, going past even the great Lara. His highest ODI score has been the daunting 215, he hit in the ODI 2015 World Cup.
But before he would turn 25, he'd have already hit 6864 international runs.
4. Graeme Smith (SA) - 6,763 Runs
Across the wide galaxy of high-level performers and achievers in the landscape of South African cricket, among the most brightly shining stars is none other than Graeme Smith, a player among the batters with most runs in international cricket before turning 25. Before turning 25, Smith, who had debuted at the age of 21, had already amassed 6763 runs in international cricket. From his double centuries as captain in Tests in England to braving a hand injury against Australia and turning up as the last of the Protea batters in a fight to salvage a draw, Graeme Smith, nicknamed 'Biff' epitomised courage for his team.
5. Virat Kohli (IND) - 6,681 Runs
A batting demigod whose fanbase does truly reflect a global cult following, it was a bit of a shocker a couple of months ago when the great Virat Kohli announced retirement from Test cricket. But it's what it is, and that still wasn't before Kohli going well over 9000-run mark in the game's longest format.
The dashing right hander, born in Delhi, but loved all over India, had already scored 6681 runs in international cricket before turning 25.
At the moment, the big match-winning batter's international run tally stands next to nearly 27,600 runs and that's a mesmerizing achievement. What's a proper landmark achievement in this is that he has already gone beyond 14,000 one-day runs.
FAQs
Which West Indies cricketers make this elite list?
The answer is Jamaica-born six-hitting machine Chris Gayle, who had made north of 6800 runs before turning 25
Which batter tops the list with the most international runs before turning 25?
Indian maestro and batting legend Sachin Tendulkar had made 11,000 plus runs and sits at the top of the list.
