10 Players With Most Fifties in International Cricket (2025 List)

Sachin Tendulkar has scored the most fifties in international cricket, with over 164 total fifties across formats in his international cricket career. Sachin’s career lasted 24 years, where he averaged about seven international fifties per year!,

These top 10 batsmen with the most fifties in international cricket stand for. This list consists of legends who set records through patience, resilience, and consistency, and have now retired, but the only active player in this list is Virat Kohli.

Let’s learn a little about each of them.

Top 10 Players With Most Fifties In International Cricket

I have compiled the table with their countries, careers, total matches, and even total runs, along with their average.

No.	Player	Country	Span	Matches	Fifties	Runs	Average
1	Sachin Tendulkar	India	1989-2013	664	164	34,357	48.52
2	Kumar Sangakkara	Sri Lanka	2000-2015	594	153	28,016	46.77
3	J.H. Kallis	Africa	1995-2014	519	149	25,534	49.10
4	Ponting	Australia	1995-2012	560	146	27,483	45.95
5	Rahul Dravid	India	1996-2012	509	146	24,208	45.41
6	Virat Kohli	India	2008-2025	550	143	27,599	52.27
7	DPMD Jayawardene	Sri Lanka	1997-2015	652	136	25,957	39.15
8	Inzamam-ul-Haq	Pakistan	1991-2007	519	129	25,534	43.32
9	S Chanderpaul	West Indies	1994-2015	454	125	21,562	45.72
10	Brian Lara	West Indies	1990-2007	430	111	22,358	46.28

As it seems, three players in the top 10 are from India, followed by Sri Lanka, West Indies and Pakistan with two players each. Most players have an average of over 45, with Virat Kohli having the highest average of 52.27.

1. Sachin Tendulkar: 164 Fifties

Sachin Tendulkar is a legend who holds the record of scoring 164 fifties in his career of over 664 international matches. He played mostly as an opener or at No.4, and was unbeatable in both ODIs and Test games. 

At the start of his career, he played fast and aggressively, which later turned into patience and consistency over the overs, scoring him a total of 34,357 runs in his career of 24 years. Many of his fifties were scored all over the world, maintaining a career average of 48.52.

2. Kumar Sangakkara: 153 Fifties

Sangakkara was more than just style. His 153 fifties in just 594 games show how Sri Lanka leaned on his solidity. What made it special was that he didn’t just play for personal records. These were match-defining, often match-saving plays.

He was always in control, and he showed it elegantly, whether in ODIs or Test Matches. Sangakkara maintained an average of 46.77 through his career of batting, keeping, and captaincy. This showed his durability as a player and team member.

3. Jacques Kallis: 149 Fifties

J.H. Kallis was never the flashiest player on the field, but he stacked up 149 fifties in 519 matches. Playing at No.3, he was an exceptional all-rounder. Just like any notable sportsperson, he was able to handle pressure well and hold the team together for years.

Kallis was also a great bowler, on the regular, and got the team some key wickets, while rarely ever missing a catch in fielding. He scored a total of 27,483 runs in his career, with an average of 45.95.

4. Ricky Ponting: 146 Fifties

Ricky Ponting played 560 international matches and scored 146 fifties, 82 in ODIs and 62 in Tests. Most of them with real intent. A lot of his fifties came at No.3, and he was confident against challenges from bowlers in the process.

Ponting maintained an average of 45.95 in Test and ODI Matches over his career. This proved his reliability. As a captain, he led by example and matched the team’s style of being tough and fearless.

5. Rahul Dravid: 146 Fifties

Rahul Dravid scored 146 fifties in 509 matches, 95 fifties in Tests, and 51 in ODIs. He averaged 52.63 in Test Matches, especially in the ones overseas. Most of them came in high-pressure games, seemingly, often when India had lost the early wickets.

Dravid was known to be calm, patient, and knew how to wear bowlers down. Whether saving a match in England or building a stand in Adelaide, he stood up to his title of “The Wall”. 

6. Virat Kohli: 143 Fifties

Virat Kohli has scored 138 fifties in 529 international matches. He has 67 in ODIs, 30 in Tests, and 41 in T20Is. In ODIs alone, he averages over 65 when chasing. In Tests, his 30 fifties sit right next to 29 centuries, showing how well he converts starts.

Being the only active player in this list of legends, he plays with passion but consistency. A lot of his great matches were played under pressure – the tendency to handle which made him one of the best captains that team India has seen.

7. DPMD Jayawardene: 136 Fifties

Mahela Jayawardene made 136 fifties in his 652-match international career, 77 in ODIs, 50 in Tests, and 9 in T20Is. He was a calm middle order player, rarely rushing, and always in control. 

In Tests, he averaged 49.84 and often batted for long hours. In ODIs, he chipped in with important knocks at a steady average of 33. Jayawardene’s style was all about the timing and placement. He was  a key figure in Sri Lanka’s golden era bein smart and composed.

8. Inzamam-ul-Haq: 129 Fifties

Inzamam-ul-Haq was a calm batsman with effortless timing. He hit 129 fifties over a career of 499 international matches. 83 of which were in ODIs and 46 in Tests. Many of his fifties came when Pakistan was struggling, especially during middle-order collapses.

His ODI average was 39.52, and in Tests, he averaged 49.60. Inzamam had a special touch against spin and always looked unbothered, no matter the match situation. In fact, he averaged 47.74 while chasing in ODIs, one of the highest for his era.

9. S Chanderpaul: 125 Fifties

Shivnarine Chanderpaul has played 125 fifties with a total of 454 matches in his career. 66 of these were in Tests and 59 were in ODIs. He was one of the West Indies’ most dependable players and had an average of 45.72 throughout his career.

He once spent over 1,000 minutes at the crease without being dismissed and often batted with the tail. Chanderpaul was known to have an awkward stance that made bowlers work harder, but he didn’t play flashy shots.

10. Brian Lara: 111 Fifties

Brian Lara scored 133 fifties in his career of 430 international matches. 63 of these were Tests, and 70 were ODIs. He mostly batted at No.3 or No.4 and was a hard player to stop. Lara averaged 52.88 in Tests and often turned fifties into big scores, including two triple centuries.

Lara has the highest individual Test score at 400 not out, which he played against England in 2004. But in ODIs, he played smoothly through the middle overs and kept the scoreboard moving. He kept the bowlers entertained and was an all-rounder through and through.

Related Read:

• Most Centuries in International Cricket
• Most Man Of The Match In International Cricket

Conclusion: Sachin Tendulkar Has The Most Fifties In International Cricket At 164

Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most fifties in international cricket at 164 fifties over a career of 24 years. But Kumar Sangakkara came in the 2nd place in just 15 years at 153 fifties, which is commendable if you think about it. 

J.H. Kallis follows 3rd at 149, and Ponting and Rahul Dravid have almost identical years and fifties at 146 each.

These fifties are built over patience and grit and the ability to not waver under pressure. Each of these players represents the best of their country. 

Keep watching cricket and have fun with it!

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