Most runs by a batsman in a calendar year in International cricket

#1. Kumar Sangakkara - 2868 runs in 2014

Sangakkara scored his only triple century in 2014 against Bangladesh

Atop the list is former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara who scored 2868 runs in 2014. He broke Ricky Ponting’s record from 2005 and Virat Kohli came awfully close to breaking it in 2017. In fact, the Indian captain looks the most likely candidate to break the record in the near future.

Sangakkara had the most runs in ODI and test matches in 2014. In ODIs, he scored 1256 runs in 28 innings which was just 12 more than the tally of his compatriot Angelo Mathews. Sangakkara scored four centuries and eight fifties in ODIs alone that year. Interestingly, it wasn’t his personal best tally in ODIs in a calendar year as he scored 1333 runs in 2006.

In test matches also he beat Mathews for the top spot. Sangakkara had 1493 runs compared to Mathews’ 1317. Sangakkara’s only triple century also came in 2014 against Bangladesh. He scored 319 runs in the first innings and a century in the second innings but the match was drawn.