Although Virat Kohli could not score big during India‘s 2nd ODI vs New Zealand On January 14, 2026, that still didn’t stop him from breaking another historic milestone. Departing for a modest 23-29 balls in superstar-inclined Rajkot, he achieved a feat that has lasted for decades and further cemented his legacy as one of the game’s greats.
Virat Kohli bowls over master Sachin Tendulkar during the 2nd ODI against New Zealand
He has officially surpassed Kohli during his time at the crease today Sachin Tendulkar To become India’s highest run-scorer against New Zealand in ODI history. He went into the match needing just one run to break the record and did so in signature style, sending a boundary in his first outing. Kohli is now second only to the Australian legend as the all-time international scorer against the Black Caps. Ricky Ponting.
New Zealand vs ODI batting stats
| Rank | Dough | Runs vs New Zealand (ODI) | Medium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ricky Ponting (AUS) | 1,971 | 39.42 |
| 2 | Virat Kohli (IND) | 1,773 | 55.40 |
| 3 | Sachin Tendulkar (IND) | 1750 | 46.05 |
| 4 | Kumar Sangakkara(SL) | 1568 | 34.84 |
Kohli’s streak against New Zealand remains unmatched in several key categories:
- Medium: He maintains a remarkable average 55.40 against the Kiwis.
- Home advantage: He scored 20 in the home ODI against New Zealand 1238 runs amazing average 72.82.
- King of the Century: He holds the joint record for most ODI hundreds against New Zealand (6), sharing the top spot with Ponting and Ponting. Virender Sehwag.
“King” Kohli reclaims his throne
This record-breaking moment coincides with the day the ICC confirmed it Kohli has officially reclaimed the No.1 spot In Men’s ODI Batting Rankings. The dethronement of a teammate Rohit Sharmathis is Kohli’s 11th appearance at the summit and first since July 2021. He has now spent a total of 825 days as the world’s top-ranked batsman, the most by any Indian in history. The milestone in Rajkot follows a clinical performance in the series opener in Vadodara on January 11, when Kohli became the fastest player in history to reach 28,000 international runs.
- Tempo: He reached the mark in just 624 innings, breaking Tendulkar’s previous record of 644 innings.
- Tally: He also passed Kumar Sangakkara (28,016) to become the second highest run-scorer in international cricket history, trailing only Tendulkar’s career total of 34,357.
