Quinton de Kock has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the second-fastest batter to reach 7,000 ODI runs by innings. He achieved this landmark during the third ODI against Pakistan in Faisalabad. This series marked his return to the ODI format after almost two years away from the format. The left-handed opener showed remarkable touch throughout the series with three consecutive fifty-plus scores, including a match-winning century in the second ODI. His return strengthens the South African white-ball setup ahead of major upcoming global tournaments. De Kock continues to remain one of the most consistent top-order batters of his generation across formats.
Top 5 fastest batters: Quinton de Kock enters the elite 7,000 ODI runs club
The Top 5 list represents some of the finest limited-overs batters the game has seen, and De Kock now sits among them with his milestone arriving in 158 innings. Hashim Amla retains the record as the fastest, reaching 7,000 runs in just 150 innings, highlighting his unmatched consistency during his peak.
De Kock’s achievement pushes Kane Williamson and Virat Kohli one spot down, with Williamson previously reaching the mark in 159 innings and Kohli in 161 innings, showing how special this milestone is considering the quality of names on this list. AB de Villiers, known for his modern-day batting innovations, completes the Top 5, having reached the milestone in 166 innings.
Top 5 Fastest to 7,000 ODI Runs by Innings:
- Hashim Amla: 150 innings
- Quinton de Kock: 158 innings
- Kane Williamson: 159 innings
- Virat Kohli: 161 innings
- AB de Villiers: 166 innings
De Kock’s consistency and position among South African greats
This achievement also places de Kock among an elite group of South African batters who have crossed the 7,000-run mark in ODIs. He is now the fifth South African to reach the milestone, joining Jacques Kallis, De Villiers, Amla and Herschelle Gibbs. Notably, de Kock is the first left-handed South African batter to do so, which adds a unique touch to this accomplishment.
His progression through previous landmarks has also been impressive, as he was the ninth-fastest to 6,000 runs, joint seventh-fastest to 5,000 runs, and the eighth-fastest to 4,000 runs. His present form in this comeback series signals that he remains a key figure in South Africa’s batting framework. His ability to adapt conditions, accelerate when needed, and maintain high strike rotation has allowed him to remain impactful across formats even after stepping away from international cricket earlier. This milestone also reaffirms his status as one of the most naturally gifted ODI openers of the modern era.
