Virat Kohli Becomes Second-Highest Run Scorer in International Cricket

Virat Kohli once again etched his name deeper into cricket’s record books on Sunday, becoming the second-highest run-scorer in the history of international cricket. The Indian batting great achieved the landmark during the first ODI against New Zealand at the Kotambi Stadium, moving past Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara in the all-time standings.

Kohli entered the match needing 42 runs to overhaul Sangakkara’s career tally of 28,016 runs. The moment arrived in the 19th over of India’s chase, when he quietly crossed the mark, placing himself behind only the iconic Sachin Tendulkar in the sport’s most prestigious batting chart.

With that, Kohli now sits alone at No. 2, with 28,017 international runs and counting, while Tendulkar remains atop the list with 34,357.

A Record Achieved Faster Than Anyone Before

Beyond the numbers, the milestone was historic for another reason. Kohli also became the fastest player in cricket history to reach 28,000 international runs, achieving the feat in just 624 innings. The previous benchmark belonged to Tendulkar, who had taken 644 innings to reach the same landmark.

Sangakkara, now third on the list, had needed 666 innings, underlining the extraordinary consistency with which Kohli has dominated across formats for more than a decade.

All-Time International Run-Scorers

Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 34,357 runs

Virat Kohli (India) – 28,017+ runs

Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 28,016 runs

Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 27,483 runs

Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) – 25,957 runs

Jacques Kallis (South Africa) – 25,534 runs

A Night of Authority and Control

The evening in Vadodara reflected everything that has defined Kohli’s career — control, composure and a relentless appetite for runs. New Zealand had posted a challenging total of 301, powered by a fluent 84 from Daryl Mitchell. India’s reply, however, was steady rather than hurried.

Kohli stitched together a commanding partnership with captain Shubman Gill, ensuring there was no panic as the chase unfolded. The milestone arrived without theatrics — just another run added to a career that has been built on method as much as brilliance.

More Records Within Reach

With Sangakkara now behind him, Kohli has already turned his gaze toward the next set of milestones in the ongoing three-match series.

He is closing in on Sachin Tendulkar’s Indian record for most ODI runs against New Zealand (1,750). Additionally, Kohli stands on the brink of becoming only the second player in history to cross 15,000 runs in One Day Internationals, a mark that further underscores his dominance in the 50-over format.

Honoured Before the First Ball

Earlier in the day, the Baroda Cricket Association paid tribute to both Kohli and Rohit Sharma, acknowledging their enduring contribution to Indian cricket. The ceremony served as a reminder of the era they have defined together.

Although Kohli has stepped away from T20 internationals and Test cricket, his form in ODIs shows no signs of fading. Entering 2026 on the back of back-to-back centuries against South Africa, he continues to set benchmarks in a format he has made his own.

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