Virat Kohli misses out on massive record in Tests and ODIs

Kumar Sangakkara stands as the remaining batter to realize the giant task of 10,000 ODI and Test runs, an achievement that was narrowly avoided by Virat Kohli, making fans and critics ponder what may have been. Sangakkara, the great Sri Lankan, hung up his boots in 2015 with 12,400 ODI runs in 404 matches at 41.98, with 25 hundreds, and 12,305 Test runs in 134 matches at 57.40, with 38 hundreds. His consistency in both formats puts him in a select group with Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, and Jacques Kallis, who also reached the 10,000-run barrier in both formats.

One of cricket's great contemporary players, Kohli, almost made it to this elite club before declaring his Test retirement on May 12, 2025, following India's tour of England. With 14,181 runs in 290 ODIs at a strike rate of 58.18, including 50 tons, Kohli was only 94 Test runs away from making it to 10,000, having scored 9,906 runs in 123 Tests at 48.32, with 30 tons. His last chance was in the England series in June 2025, but Kohli was short, falling short of the dual-format mark by a whisker.

The lost chance triggered social media debate; Kohli was only 94 runs away from joining the likes of Tendulkar, Sangakkara, and others who have attained this rare distinction. Even though Kohli retired from Tests, his ODI skills keep him in the running to overtake Sangakkara's 14,234 ODI runs, as he continues to pursue Tendulkar's record of 18,426 runs in the format. His Test retirement closed the window to join this exclusive club.

Test Retirement Costs Kohli a Historic Dual-Format Record

Kohli’s retirement from Tests, which came about from wanting to only focus on ODIs and the IPL after he had already retired from T20Is following the 2024 World Cup win, ended a phenomenal red ball journey that began in 2011 with his previous retirement from T20Is. His retirement took away any chance of him getting the 94 runs needed to reach 10,000 Test runs which would have solidified his status as one of the greatest of all time in either format. 

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Looking ahead, Kohli would be aiming for the 2027 ODI World Cup, to bring a glory road to India and take the title away from Sangakkara's ODI runs total. Kohli will always remain a titan of batting, and while he won't get the dual format record, his ODI records will inspire the next generation for batting records.