I’ve always believed that cricket legends are defined by their runs as much as by their trophies. When it comes to most runs in women’s ODI cricket, one name towers above all: India’s Mithali Raj.
Similarly, Mithali is a legend of her own with 7,805 runs in her ODI career. In fact, as of late 2025, she leads the charts by a huge margin – England’s Charlotte Edwards is next with 5,992 runs, and New Zealand’s Suzie Bates follows closely at 5,896 runs.
In this article, I’ll walk you through these top scorers – their tallies, milestones and the innings that made us fans sit up and take notice. Buckle up: these women have been piling on runs like a steamroller on a flattish road.
In the sections below, we’ll meet the all-time run-getters in women’s ODIs, explore the World Cup batting legends, and share some personal insights from a journalist who watched many of these innings. Expect stats and stories – the kind of detail I myself would jot down in a notebook after a thrilling match.
All-Time Run-Getters: Players with the Most Runs in Women’s ODI Cricket
When I look at the ODI records, the top run-scorers feel like old friends. Each name on the list brings back memories of innings I watched or covered.
Similarly, here are the cream of the crop – the women who put up the most runs in women’s ODI cricket:
Mithali Raj (India) – 7,805 runs.
It’s hard to capture Mithali’s quiet dominance. I remember her elegant cover drives in tight chases; over 23 years, she amassed 7,805 runs at an average over 50 – a female ODI record.
She broke England’s great Charlotte Edwards’ record in 2018 and retired in 2022, still way ahead of everyone else.
Charlotte Edwards (England) – 5,992 runs
Lottie Edwards was the matriarch of English cricket for decades. I recall watching her plunder 173* vs Ireland in the 1997 World Cup – the spark that hinted at her greatness.
By the time she hung up her bat in 2016, she had piled up 5,992 ODI runs at a handy average of 38.16. In fact, Charlotte still holds England’s ODI scoring record.
Suzie Bates (New Zealand) – 5,896 runs
Suzie “Super” Bates is a run machine. Even now in 2025, at age 38, she’s still adding to her tally.
I followed her rise from a teen prodigy to a veteran captain. Her current total of 5,896 runs is third all-time in women’s ODIs.
You can find Bates high up on every all-time list – she has 13 centuries and still bats at a 37+ average.
Stafanie Taylor (West Indies) – 5,805 runs
Taylor is another all-format great. Often unheralded, she quietly crossed 5,800 ODI runs by 2025.
I remember her majestic 171 against Sri Lanka in the 2013 World Cup (still the third-highest Women’s ODI score). With over 41 fifties, Taylor’s swingy game has anchored many West Indies innings.
Smriti Mandhana (India) – 4,888 runs
The youngest on this list, Mandhana, is still climbing. I watched her transform from a precocious talent into one of world cricket’s premier openers.
As of September 2025, she has 4,888 ODI runs at nearly a 48 average – already the fifth-highest total in the women’s game. She’s not only India’s second-highest after Mithali, but she’s the fastest Indian woman to 4,000 and 4,500 runs.
I suspect Mandhana’s name will stay on this list for years, since she’s still in her prime.
These five have clearly pulled away from the rest of the pack, but a few legends hover just below. Australia’s Belinda Clark once held the record (she scored 4,844 ODI runs) and stands just outside the top five.
England’s Claire Taylor (4,384 runs) and Australia’s Karen Rolton (4,814) were masters of their eras. Each of these players carved her name into the record books: in fact, Mithali Raj is one of only two women ever to cross 10,000 total runs in international cricket.
Looking at the table above, it’s clear these batters share a hunger for runs. I’d call their careers the product of patience, skill and longevity.
They didn’t just light up one tournament – they kept scoring year after year. What stands out most to me is how they set up innings: bold yet elegant, like Suzie’s cover drives “flowing like water,” or Mandhana’s lofted drives painting boundaries.
These women have forged paths for younger players, proving that women’s ODIs can be every bit as entertaining (and run-packed) as men’s games.
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World Cup Run-Scoring Legends
The World Cup is where memories turn into legends. It’s fitting that some of the biggest names in women’s cricket also top the Women’s ODI World Cup run charts.
Debbie Hockley of New Zealand is the queen here – she scored a record 1,501 runs in Women’s World Cups. I’ll never forget Hockley’s consistency across five World Cups in the 80s and 90s; she finally set the benchmark of 1,501 runs, a mark that stood unmatched for decades.
Here are the top World Cup batters all-time:
- Debbie Hockley (NZ) – 1,501 runs – The longtime Kiwi opener retired in 2000 as the WC run-scoring king.
- Mithali Raj (India) – 1,321 runs – Nearly 200 behind Hockley, Mithali amassed 1,321 runs at World Cups. I remember her crafting innings that kept India in finals (2005, 2017).
- Janette Brittin (England) – 1,299 runs – Brittin was an absolute stalwart for England in the 80s/90s World Cups.
- Charlotte Edwards (England) – 1,231 runs – Lottie’s 2005 World Cup was legendary.
- Suzie Bates (NZ) – 1,179 runs – And counting, as she still plays.
These figures show that World Cups often mirror career runs: the greats of the 50-over game shine on the big stage too. For example, I’ve witnessed Stafanie Taylor smacking 171 against Sri Lanka (2013) and Harmanpreet Kaur’s explosive 171* against Australia (2017), both World Cup knocks to remember.
Even as the game evolves, players like Harmanpreet (876 WC runs so far) and England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt (805) are hot on the heels of the all-time names.
Above all, these World Cup tallies underline one thing: the top run-getters perform when it counts.
Their championships or heartbreaks, I saw the same calm confidence and touch that got them runs in lesser series. For a journalist covering tournament after tournament, seeing these women at the crease meant expecting class.
Personal Insights on These Run Machines
What makes a batter pile up runs like this? In my experience watching these players, a few themes emerge.
First, temporal breadth: most of these legends played ODIs for a decade or two. Mithali’s career spanned 1999–2022, and Charlotte’s 1997–2016. That longevity alone boosts run totals.
Another trait is consistency under pressure. These batters earned runs even in chases.
For example, I watched the 2017 World Cup final where Mithali anchored India’s chase with an unbeaten 78 – a valiant effort that fell just short. Similarly, Mandhana’s ton in the 2020 T20I series against Australia (though a different format) showed me that she has the temperament of a veteran.
Here are a few takeaways I’ve jotted down over the years:
- Early milestones: Many reached big marks young. Taylor was the youngest to reach 1,000 ODI runs for WI. Mandhana hit two hundreds by age 20.
- Strong Averages: Most carry averages around 40 or higher. Mandhana’s ODI average is nearly 48, Raj’s is 50.68.
- Record innings: The highest scores (Amelia Kerr’s 232*, Belinda Clark’s 229*) show these players could go big when set.
Finally, as a journalist, I feel a personal admiration. I remember one chilly morning in Mumbai writing about Belinda Clark’s double hundred back in 1997, an innings ahead of its time.
Moreover, years later, I saw Clark mentor younger Australians, passing on that fire. The modern scorers carry that legacy.
Mandhana, for instance, has broken one of Virat Kohli’s records for fastest century by an Indian in any ODI – that combination of flair and poise is exactly what cricket needs to thrive. Each of these players has a different style – from Charlotte’s textbook drives to Suzie’s fluid cuts – but they all share cricketing grit.
Personally, I think they each battled not just bowlers but the spotlight. In the days when women’s matches drew smaller crowds and little coverage, they chased their hundred after hundred.
That effort – the heart and thousands of practice hours – is the real story behind the numbers.
Amit Mishra’s Thoughts
To sum up, the all-time women’s ODI runs list is dominated by some of cricket’s most respected figures. India’s Mithali Raj tops the chart by a mile, with England’s Charlotte Edwards and New Zealand’s Suzie Bates also breaking 5,000 ODI runs.
Moreover, Stafanie Taylor (WI) and Smriti Mandhana (IND) round out the leading five. In World Cups, Debbie Hockley still reigns supreme with 1,501 runs, followed by those same legends in pursuit.
Similarly, every run they scored tells a story – of technique, temperament and sometimes sheer defiance. As a cricket writer, I’ve chronicled how they steered innings or broke records.
Looking ahead, I suspect Mandhana and Bates will climb even higher, and new names will emerge. But for now, these greats hold the throne.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who has scored the most runs in women’s ODI cricket?
India’s Mithali Raj leads all women with 7,805 ODI runs. She is followed by England’s Charlotte Edwards (5,992) and New Zealand’s Suzie Bates (5,896).
Who has the most runs in women’s Cricket World Cup history?
New Zealander Debbie Hockley is the all-time World Cup run-scorer. She scored 1,501 runs across her World Cup career.
Who are the top five run-scorers in women’s ODI history?
The top five are:
Mithali Raj (India) – 7,805 runs
Charlotte Edwards (England) – 5,992 runs
Suzie Bates (NZ) – 5,896 runs
Stafanie Taylor (WI) – 5,805 runs
Smriti Mandhana (India) – 4,888 runs
What is the highest individual score in a women’s ODI match?
The highest is 232 not out by Amelia Kerr of New Zealand (2018). That broke Australia’s Belinda Clark’s long-standing record of 229*.
Who is India’s leading run-scorer in women’s ODIs?
Mithali Raj is India’s top ODI run-scorer with 7,805 runs. The next highest is Smriti Mandhana, with 4,888 runs.
