Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli has scaled yet another monumental peak in his illustrious career, entering an exclusive club of cricketing legends. During the first One Day International against New Zealand in Vadodara on Sunday, Kohli crossed the landmark of 28,000 runs in international cricket, becoming only the third player in history to achieve this feat.
Kohli Overtakes Sangakkara in Elite List
Starting the match needing just 25 runs to reach the milestone, Kohli achieved it in the 13th over of India's chase. He elegantly nudged a delivery from New Zealand's Michael Bracewell to bring up his 28,017th run, thereby surpassing Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara's tally of 28,016 runs. This move cemented his position as the third-highest run-scorer in the combined history of Test, ODI, and T20I cricket.
The Summit: How Far is Kohli from Tendulkar?
The only name now above Kohli on the all-time list is the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. The Master Blaster sits at the summit with a colossal 34,357 runs from 664 international matches. This places Kohli, with his 28,017* runs from 557 matches, within striking distance, though a significant gap of over 6,300 runs remains. The chase for Tendulkar's iconic record is well and truly on, adding a thrilling narrative to the latter stages of Kohli's career.
The updated list of top run-getters in men's international cricket now stands as follows:
- 1. Sachin Tendulkar (India): 34,357 runs in 664 matches
- 2. Virat Kohli (India): 28,017* runs in 557 matches
- 3. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): 28,016 runs in 594 matches
- 4. Ricky Ponting (Australia): 27,483 runs in 560 matches
- 5. Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka): 25,957 runs in 652 matches
A Legacy of Consistency and Greatness
This latest achievement underscores Virat Kohli's remarkable consistency and longevity at the highest level of the game. The milestone was reached during a competitive ODI in Vadodara, proving his ability to deliver across all formats and under match pressure. With 84 centuries and 144 half-centuries in international cricket, his journey from a promising talent to a modern-day great is a testament to his dedication and skill.
As the cricket world celebrates this new landmark, all eyes will be on how quickly Kohli can bridge the gap to Sachin Tendulkar's seemingly untouchable record. For now, the former India captain has further solidified his legacy as one of the finest batters the sport has ever seen.
