Virat Kohli once again etched his name deeper into cricketing history, becoming only the third batter to cross the landmark of 28,000 international runs during the first ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara on Sunday.
The milestone came in trademark Kohli fashion, as he confidently dispatched a delivery from spinner Adithya Ashok to the boundary, drawing loud applause from a packed stadium. At 37, Kohli continues to redefine longevity and consistency at the highest level of the game.
With this achievement, Kohli joined an elite group featuring only Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara, underlining his status as one of the most prolific run-scorers the sport has ever seen. What makes the feat even more remarkable is the speed at which Kohli reached it, doing so in just his 624th international innings since making his debut in 2008.
In comparison, Tendulkar had reached the same milestone after 644 innings, while Sangakkara took 666 innings, highlighting Kohli’s unparalleled efficiency across formats.
Kohli’s run tally reflects his dominance in all three formats of the game. He concluded his Test career with 9,230 runs from 123 matches, while his impact in T20 Internationals yielded 4,188 runs in 125 appearances. In the ODI format, he has amassed 14,583 runs so far from 309 matches, continuing to add to his record with every innings.
The Indian star has consistently shattered run-scoring benchmarks over the past few years. In February 2023, he became the fastest player to reach 25,000 international runs, getting there 28 innings quicker than Tendulkar. Later that year in October, he crossed 26,000 runs, once again setting a new speed record. His march continued in September 2024, when he reached 27,000 runs at a pace unmatched in the history of the game.
