The No. 3 position in ODIs is seen as critical. In one-day cricket, the best batter on the team is generally placed at one down. In the event of an early wicket, the No. 3 hitter can consolidate the innings and perhaps capitalise on the openers’ strong start.
When it comes to one-day chases, the No. 3 batter is frequently expected to anchor the pursuit, with the other frontline batters playing around him. Over the years, ODI cricket has seen a number of renowned batsmen claim the No. 3 spot in the format.
Team India is currently facing New Zealand in a home series. The Men in Blue boast perhaps the best No. 3 batsman in one-day cricket history, Virat Kohli. In this feature, we look at the top five hitters who have scored the most runs when one down in ODIs.
5. Kane Williamson (6,504 runs)
Former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is fifth on the list of batters with the most runs at number three in ODIs. He has played 143 matches (140 innings), scoring 6,504 runs at an average of 51.61 and a strike rate of 82.03. In ODIs, Williamson has 13 hundreds and 44 half-centuries at No. 3. Four of his tons have come against South Africa and three against Pakistan.
Williamson’s best score at No. 3 is 148, against West Indies in Manchester during the 2019 World Cup, off 154 balls. His knock included 14 fours and a six. He also made 145* off 136 balls against South Africa at Kimberley in January 2013, an innings featuring 17 fours and a six. Williamson struck 133* off 113 balls against the Proteas in Lahore in February 2025.
4. Jacques Kallis (7,774 runs)
South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis too had some match turning performances while batting at No. 3 in ODIs. In 204 games (200 innings), he scored 7,774 runs at an average of 45.72, a strike rate of 73.74 with 13 hundreds and 57 half-centuries to his name. Three of those at No. 3 were against the West Indies, and two each against India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
Kallis’ highest of 139 was against the West Indies in Johannesburg in February 2004 off 142 balls. That innings, with 11 fours and three sixes, led South Africa to a successful chase of 305. He made an unbetean 119 off 160 balls against India at Durban (November 2006), scored 111 off 140 balls against New Zealanad in Perth (January op1998) and made147*140m against England at The Oval (June 2003).
3. Kumar Sangakkara (9,747 runs)
At third place is former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara most runs in odis at number 3. In 243 matches (238 innings), he made 9,747 runs at an average and strike rate of 44.71 and 80.50 respectively, including 18 centuries and as many half-centuries. Four of his centuries were against India, four against England and two each versus Australia and New Zealand.
Sangakkara’s best, 169, was also against South Africa in Colombo in July 2013 off 137 balls with 18 fours and six sixes. He also struck an unbeaten 134 off 135 ball versus England at The Oval in the 2013 Champions Trophy. And 133 off 151 runs against India at Hambantota (July 2012) and 113* off 105 againt New Zealand in Wellington (January, 2015).
2. Virat Kohli (12,529 runs)
India’s batting maestro Virat Kohli currently ranks second among players with the most runs from the No. 3 position in ODIs. In 245 matches (242 innings), he has amassed 12,529 runs at an average of 61.41 and a strike rate of 94.65, with 46 hundreds and 67 half-centuries. Of these tons, eight have been against Australia, seven against South Africa, and six against New Zealand.
Kohli’s best (183) was against Pakistan in Mirpur during the 2012 Asia Cup, from 148 balls. The innings contained 22 fours and a six as India chased down 330. There was also 166* off 110 versus Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram (January 2023) and 160* off 159 against South Africa in Cape Town (February 2018). 157* off 129 v West Indies in Visakhapatnam, October 2018 and 154* off 134 v New Zealand at Mohali, October 2016.
1. Ricky Ponting (12,662 runs)
Most Runs by Batsmen at No.3 in ODIs 01) Ricky Ponting (AUS) – 12,662 runs Australian legend and former captain Ricky Ponting is the leading run scorer at number three position in One-day Internationals. He scored 12,662 runs in 335 games (330 innings) at an average of 42.48 and a strike rate of 80.73 including twenty nine centuries and seventy four fifties. Six of his centuries were made against India and New Zealand, and five against England.
Ponting’s highest of 164 came off 105 balls against South Africa in Johannesburg in March 2006. He smashed 13 fours and nine sixes, though South Africa made history by chasing 435. Ponting also hit 141* off 127 against New Zealand in Napier (March 2005) and a memorable 140* off 121 against India in Johannesburg in the 2003 World Cup final — an iconic knock that featured four fours and eight sixes.
