Virat Kohli becomes 3rd Batter in the world to score 28,000 international runs in IND vs NZ 1st ODI

avijit-das — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 19:33:54 GMT

Veteran Indian batter Virat Kohli made history on Sunday (January 11) by becoming the third batter in the world to score 28,000 runs in international cricket.

Veteran Indian batter Virat Kohli made history on Sunday (January 11) by becoming the third batter in the world to score 28,000 runs in international cricket. The 37-year-old right-handed batter from Delhi needed 25 runs in the first India vs New Zealand ODI at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara to reach the milestone.

Kohli achieved the feat during the 13th over of India’s innings while chasing a target of 301 runs. He hit Adithya Ashok for a four on the fifth ball of the over to take his total to 28,001 international runs.

Kohli finished his Test career with 9,230 runs in 123 matches and his T20I career with 4,188 runs in 125 matches. In ODIs, he has scored 14,583* runs so far in 309 matches.

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Virat Kohli Climbs the All-Time International Runs List

Only two batters, Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara, were ahead of Virat Kohli in the list of highest run-scorers in international cricket. During the first India vs New Zealand ODI, Kohli needed 42 runs to go past Sangakkara’s total of 28,016 runs and become the second-highest run-getter in international cricket.

Sangakkara played 594 international matches during his career from 2000 to 2015 and scored 28,016 runs. Sachin Tendulkar still holds the world record for the most runs in international cricket. He played 664 matches for India between 1989 and 2013, scoring 34,357 runs. Tendulkar made 15,921 runs in 200 Tests, 18,426 runs in 463 ODIs, and scored 10 runs in his only T20I match.

Most runs in international cricket

Player	Country	Matches	Innings	Runs	Highest	Average	100s	50s
Sachin Tendulkar	India	664	782	34,357	248*	48.52	100	164
Virat Kohli	India	557*	624*	28,017*	254*	52.58	84	145
Kumar Sangakkara	Sri Lanka	594	666	28,016	319	46.77	63	153
Ricky Ponting	Australia	560	668	27,483	257	45.95	71	146
Mahela Jayawardene	Sri Lanka	652	725	25,957	374	39.15	54	136
Jacques Kallis	South Africa	519	617	25,534	224	49.10	62	149
Rahul Dravid	India	509	605	24,208	270	45.41	48	146
Brian Lara	West Indies	430	521	22,358	400*	46.28	53	111
Joe Root	England	381	503	22,166	262	49.36	60	114
Sanath Jayasuriya	Sri Lanka	586	651	21,032	340	34.14	42	103

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Kohli Breaks Sangakkara’s Record in Vadodara

Virat Kohli became the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket on Sunday (January 11). The 37-year-old right-handed batter from Delhi crossed Sangakkara’s mark during the 19th over of India’s innings while chasing 301 runs at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara.

Kohli also closed in on another record against New Zealand. If he scores 94 runs in the match, he will go past Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 1,750 runs in India–New Zealand ODIs. Tendulkar scored 1,750 runs in 41 ODIs against New Zealand, while Kohli had 1,683 runs before this match.

Kohli finished his Test career with 9,230 runs in 123 matches and his T20I career with 4,188 runs in 125 matches. In ODIs, he has scored 14,599* runs so far in 309 matches.