Virat Kohli breaks Sachin Tendulkar record, second only to Ricky Ponting in elite list

Virat Kohli continues to etch his name deeper into the cricket record books. In the second ODI against New Zealand, Kohli surpassed Sachin Tendulkar to become India’s all-time leading scorer against the Kiwis in One Day Internationals. Kohli, who tied Tendulkar with a score of 93 in the series opener, wasted no time and claimed the record straight by sending the first delivery he faced to the boundary. He currently stands alone as the most prolific Indian batsman against New Zealand in 50-over cricket.

But worldwide, Ricky Ponting remains a reference. Kohli still lags behind Australia’s best in total ODI runs against New Zealand.

Most Runs Against New Zealand in ODIs:

1. Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 1,971 runs in 51 matches (45.83 average)

2. Virat Kohli (India) – 1,751+ runs in 35 matches (56.40 average)

3. Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 1,750 runs in 42 matches (average 46.05)

4. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) – 1,519 runs in 47 matches (33.75 average)

Kohli’s latest feat is just one of several notable achievements in a sensational week. In the opening ODI held in Vadodara on January 11, the India star became the fastest player to reach 28,000 international runs, reaching the milestone in just 624 innings; 20 less than Tendulkar’s previous record. In the process, Kohli also overtook Kumar Sangakkara to become the second highest run-scorer in international cricket and came close to Tendulkar’s all-time tally.

Adding to his impressive run, Kohli surpassed teammate Rohit Sharma to claim the No. 1 spot in the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings on January 14. This marks his first time at the top of the rankings since July 2021 and his 11th time overall as the world’s best ODI batsman; A remarkable achievement at the age of 37.

Kohli’s dominance is highlighted by his current form with five consecutive ODI scores of fifty or more. While the bowlers search for answers, Kohli’s relentless consistency continues to set him apart on the world stage.

Also read| Virat Kohli regains No. 1 ODI batting position after four years, Rohit Sharma drops down the rankings