3 historic records Virat Kohli can break in the upcoming IND vs NZ ODI series

India are set to take on New Zealand in a three-match ODI series beginning on Sunday, January 11. The series marks the return of Virat Kohli to India’s ODI setup following a sensational performance against South Africa, where he once again showcased his class and consistency.

Whenever Kohli steps onto the field, records are never far behind. The upcoming series against the Black Caps presents him with several opportunities to further etch his name into cricketing history. As the first assignment of 2026 for the 37-year-old approaches, the modern-day great will have a chance to surpass multiple milestones in the series.

Here are the top three records Virat Kohli can break in the IND vs NZ series.

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3. Most ODI Runs for India Against New Zealand

Since making his ODI debut in 2008, Virat Kohli has been one of India’s most dependable batters against New Zealand. In 33 ODIs against the Kiwis, he has scored 1,657 runs.

If the Delhi batter scores at least 93 runs in the opening match of the upcoming series, he will go past Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of 1,750 runs. This will make Kohli India’s highest run-scorer against New Zealand in ODI cricket.

The overall record for the most ODI runs against New Zealand is held by former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who scored 1,971 runs in 51 matches.

2. Most ODI Centuries Against New Zealand

Virat Kohli has already scored six ODI centuries against New Zealand. He is currently tied with Virender Sehwag and Ricky Ponting, who also scored six hundreds against the Black Caps during their careers.

If Kohli scores one more century in the upcoming series, he will become the first batter in the world to score seven ODI centuries against New Zealand. Considering his recent form and consistency, this milestone is well within reach.

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1. Fastest to 28,000 International Runs

Another major milestone is within touching distance for Kohli. The former India captain is just 25 runs away from becoming the fastest batter to reach 28,000 international runs.

So far, Kohli has scored 27,975 runs in 623 international innings. He will become only the third player in cricket history to reach this landmark, after Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara.

Tendulkar reached 28,000 runs in 644 innings, while Sangakkara took 666 innings, highlighting Kohli’s exceptional consistency across all formats.