Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli added another historic chapter to his legendary career by becoming the fastest batsman to reach 28,000 international runs during India’s four-wicket win over New Zealand in the first ODI Sunday at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara. The landmark came in Kohli’s 624th international innings when he pierced the off-side off-spinner Aditya Ashok with a sharp boundary, prompting loud celebrations from the packed crowd.
With this, Kohli surpassed the long-standing mark Sachin TendulkarHe reached the same mark in 644 innings. The achievement also saw Kohli cross Kumar Sangakkarafurther cementing his place among the greatest goalscorers the game has ever produced.
Virat Kohli breaks Sachin Tendulkar’s record with remarkable efficiency
Kohli’s journey to 28,000 runs stands out not only for its volume but also for the pace and consistency with which he achieved it. The former India captain highlighted how modern fitness, technique and adaptability have shaped his run machine by reaching the milestone of 20 innings faster than Tendulkar.
Only three batsmen in the history of international cricket have crossed the 28,000-run mark – Tendulkar, Sangakkara and now Kohli. Sangakkara took 666 innings to reach this figure, while Ricky Ponting missed out by a narrow margin, ending his career with 27,483 runs. Kohli’s acceleration across formats highlights the rare longevity and consistent excellence that sets him apart even among legends.
Kohli: ‘CHase Ustad’
The milestone came during a high-pressure run chase, a scenario Kohli thrived on time and time again. India were tasked with chasing down a competitive 300 for New Zealand’s 8 and Kohli anchored the innings with a superb 93 off 91 balls. His knock included eight fours and one six, balancing control with timely aggression against the Black Caps’ bowling attack.
Major collaborations with Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer It gave India a 1-0 lead in the ODI series to the hosts. Kohli was later named Man of the Match, an accolade he characteristically brushed aside with humor, asking the officials to send the trophy to his mother in Gurgaon.
Format-wise breakdown of Kohli’s internationals
Kohli’s 28,000 international runs are spread seamlessly across all three formats, highlighting his adaptability in a constant state of evolution. In Tests, he scored 9,230 runs in 210 innings, averaged close to 47, scored 30 centuries and earned a reputation for delivering overseas under pressure.
ODIs form the backbone of his run tally with 14,650 runs in 309 innings at an exceptional average of 58.60. His record 53 ODI centuries and unparalleled success in run chases define this phase of his career. In T20Is, Kohli scored 4,188 runs in 117 overs, combining powerplay aggression with unparalleled consistency, even scoring a century in the format.
In all, his 28,000 runs in 624 innings at an average of over 52, 84 international hundreds, makes him the fastest in all major batting stages.
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Kohli’s latest acceleration sets him apart from his peers
What makes Kohli’s feat even more astonishing is the pace at which he has picked up in the latter stages. He became the fastest to 25,000 international runs in just 549 innings and continued this growth by reaching 26,000 and 27,000 at record pace, the latter achieved in 594 innings against Bangladesh in 2024.
His Vadodara innings reflected the same hunger, even at the age of 37, as he continues to lead India’s batting revival in white-ball cricket. With fitness levels rivaling players a decade younger, Kohli shows no sign of slowing down.
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