Virat Kohli completes 15,000 ODI runs, breaks Sachin Tendulkar's record

Virat Kohli completed 15,000 ODI runs, reaching the landmark in his 303rd innings, 74 innings quicker than Indian cricket legend and his own idol Sachin Tendulkar managed. Kohli needed 59 runs to get there against West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram and reached the mark in just 46 balls, before raising both hands in respect towards his idol and acknowledging a standing ovation from the crowd.

Kohli walked into the chase with 14,941 ODI runs, but India had already done the early work. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill had taken India through the opening phase without allowing West Indies to establish much control, although both had their moments of fortune. Gill was dropped by Keemo Paul, while Rohit survived a chance before Alzarri Joseph eventually dismissed him for 32, leaving India 74/1 after 12 overs.

Kohli's arrival immediately changed the rhythm of the chase. There was no extended period of settling in as he took on Alzarri early, attacked anything loose and used the pace on offer. With Gill already well set, Kohli was able to play the more aggressive role and keep India moving at the required tempo.

The milestone was never far away, but Kohli's batting did not



look dictated by it. He brought up his half-century in 40 balls, and with nine more needed for 15,000, he continued to take the attack on. Back-to-back boundaries took him to 59 and completed the landmark, after which Kohli raised both hands towards Tendulkar in a gesture of respect before turning to the Thiruvananthapuram crowd and acknowledging its standing ovation.

Tendulkar had reached 15,000 ODI runs in his 377th innings in 2007. Kohli has now done it in 303, putting him 74 innings ahead of his idol and former India teammate.

. Virat Kohli – 303rd innings

. Sachin Tendulkar – 377th innings

The significance of Tendulkar being the benchmark was not lost on Kohli. Tendulkar has long been an idol for Kohli, who has spoken about growing up watching him and taking inspiration from his batting and his ability to win matches for India.

Kohli had already overtaken Tendulkar as the fastest batter to 13,000 ODI runs, reaching that mark in 267 innings in 2023 compared with Tendulkar's 321. The 15,000-run landmark has now produced another sizeable gap between the two in terms of innings taken to reach the milestone.