Top 5 batsmen fastest to 13000 runs in test cricket

Two legendary Indian batsmen have recorded over 13000 runs in test cricket.

Test cricket is the toughest format of the three forms of cricket. In test cricket, a batsman must have the skillset, mental toughness, consistency, sound technique, and patience level to have a long and successful career.

There are several players who had test careers stretching over a dozen years, during which they amassed a significant number of runs.

One record that only a few batsmen (five) have managed to achieve is scoring over 13,000 runs. These are five of the greatest test batsmen of all time.

In this article, we will look at the five batsmen who breached the 13,000-run mark in test cricket and rank them on the least number of innings they took to reach this milestone.

Top four batsmen fastest to 13000 runs in test cricket:

5. Joe Root (ENG) – 279 innings

Joe Root from England is the only batter from his country to cross the 13,000-run mark in the longest format of the game. It took him 279 innings to reach the feat. After making his debut against India in 2012, Root became a permanent member of England’s test side. He completed 13,000 test runs against Zimbabwe in a one-off test between the two nations in May 2025.

Root is the fifth batter and also fifth fastest, in terms of innings taken, to reach 13,000 test runs.

4. Rahul Dravid (IND) – 277 innings

Rahul Dravid was a proper classical test match batter with an incredible amount of patience being his forte.

The legendary cricketer amassed 13288 runs in 164 tests at a terrific average of 52.31. Dravid slammed 36 centuries and 63 half-centuries in his glorious test career.

Dravid is the fourth fastest batsman in test cricket to reach the 13000-run landmark. He achieved this iconic milestone at the Wankhede Stadium against the West Indies in 2011. He took 277 innings to reach this particular feat.

3. Ricky Ponting (AUS) – 275 innings

Australian legend Ricky Ponting took 277 innings to reach the 13000-run mark in test cricket. The former Aussie skipper achieved this milestone during the Adelaide test match against India in 2012.

Talking about his test career, Ponting was known for his positive approach. The right-hander amassed 13378 runs in 168 tests, including 41 hundreds and 62 half-centuries.

2. Jacques Kallis (SA) – 269 innings

South Africa’s Jacques Kallis is known as arguably the greatest all-rounder in test cricket. The former cricketer took 269 innings to reach the 13000-run milestone in tests. Kallis achieved this illustrious feat during the Cape Town test match against New Zealand in 2013.

Kallis played 166 tests and aggregated 13289 runs at an admirable average of 55.37. The legendary South African notched up 45 hundreds and 58 half-centuries in the longest format.

1. Sachin Tendulkar (IND) – 266 innings

Sachin Tendulkar is the fastest batsman to reach the 13000-run landmark in test cricket, taking 266 innings to achieve this particular milestone. He reached this figure against Bangladesh in Chattogram in 2010.

Hailed as arguably the greatest batsman of all time, Tendulkar amassed 15921 runs in 200 tests at an outstanding average of 53.78. He registered 51 centuries and 68 half-centuries in the longest format.

(All stats updated till 22nd May, 2025)

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