symbols of indian cricket Virat Kohli at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara on Sunday Win by four wickets in the first ODI against New Zealand He added another important chapter to his historic career by reaching 28,000 international runs during the 2016 season. The milestone came in Kohli’s 624th international innings, when he hit a brilliant four off spinner Aditya Ashok and crossed the ball to the left side, sparking a wild celebration among the spectators.
With this achievement, Kohli Sachin Tendulkar It overtook the long-standing record held by K.K., who had played 644 innings to reach the same milestone. This achievement made Kohli Kumar Sangakkara He also crossed the ODI mark, further cementing his position among the game’s greatest run-scorers.
Virat Kohli breaks Sachin Tendulkar’s record with unparalleled efficiency
Kohli’s journey to 28,000 runs is notable not just for the quantity but also for the speed and consistency with which it has been achieved. With Tendulkar reaching the milestone 20 innings faster, the former Indian captain made it clear how modern fitness, technique and conditioning has shaped his run-scoring machine.
Only three batsmen have crossed the 28,000-run mark in international cricket history – Tendulkar, Sangakkara, and now Kohli. Sangakkara took 666 innings to reach this figure, while Ricky Ponting finished his career with 27,483 runs. Kohli’s pacey performances across formats highlight a rare blend that sets him apart even among the legends.
Kohli: ‘The Chase Master’
The milestone came during a high-pressure run chase, a scenario in which Kohli has time and again excelled. India had to chase New Zealand’s competitive target of 300, and Kohli took charge of the innings with 93 runs off 91 balls. His innings included eight fours and a six, as he maintained control with timely aggression against the Black Caps bowling attack.
Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer Crucial partnerships ensured India reached the target with an over to spare, giving the hosts a 1–0 lead in the ODI series. Kohli was later named Player of the Match, which he shrugged off with humour, asking the officials to send the trophy to his mother in Gurgaon.
Format wise details of Kohli’s international runs
Kohli’s 28,000 international runs are spread evenly across all three formats, showing his adaptability in an era of continued growth. In Tests, he has scored 9,230 runs in 210 innings at an average of around 47, including 30 centuries and has a reputation for performing overseas under pressure.
ODIs are the backbone of his run tally, with 14,650 runs in 309 innings at an average of 58.60. His record 53 ODI centuries and unparalleled success in run chases have defined this phase of his career. In T20Is, Kohli scored 4,188 runs in 117 innings, combining powerplay aggression with unparalleled consistency, even scoring a century in this format.
Overall, his 28,000 runs in 624 innings at an average above 52, along with 84 international centuries, make him the fastest of all major batting milestones.
Kohli’s recent rise makes him different from his peers
What makes Kohli’s achievement even more impressive is how quickly he has achieved recent milestones. He set a record of reaching 25,000 international runs in just 549 innings and maintained this pace to reach 26,000 and 27,000 at record pace, the last of which was achieved in 594 innings against Bangladesh in 2024.
His Vadodara innings reflected the same hunger at the age of 37, as he continues to lead India’s batting resurgence in white-ball cricket. With fitness levels that are on par with players a decade younger, Kohli shows no signs of slowing down.
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