India’s Kohli becomes second-highest run-scorer in international cricket

By Admin

13 Jan, 2026

A historic milestone in Indian cricket
Indian batting legend Virat Kohli has once again etched his name deeper into the record books by becoming the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket. The landmark came after his match-winning knock of 93 in the first One Day International (ODI) against New Zealand, underlining his unmatched consistency across formats.

Surpassing Kumar Sangakkara
With this performance, Kohli went past Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara, who had amassed 28,016 runs in international cricket. Kohli now stands at 28,068 runs across Tests, ODIs and T20s, placing him second on the all-time list, behind compatriot Sachin Tendulkar, who leads with 34,357 runs.

A journey that began in 2008
Kohli made his international debut for India in an ODI against Sri Lanka in 2008. Seventeen years later, his journey reflects relentless hard work, evolution, and an unwavering belief in his abilities. Speaking after being named Player of the Match in Vadodara, Kohli described his career as a dream come true and expressed gratitude for the opportunities and success he has received.

Match-winning knock against New Zealand
His 91-ball 93 played a decisive role as India chased down a target of 301, winning the match with four wickets and six balls to spare to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. Although he missed out on what would have been his 54th ODI century, it marked his fifth consecutive 50-plus score in ODIs, including two centuries.

Focus beyond milestones
Kohli made it clear that personal records are not on his mind at this stage of his career. According to him, the way he is batting right now is purely about contributing to the team’s success rather than chasing milestones. This mindset has been evident in his calm yet commanding presence at the crease.

Reinventing his batting approach
Even in his 17th year of international cricket, Kohli continues to reinvent himself. He revealed that he now focuses on making maximum impact in the first 20 deliveries after coming in at first drop. His recent approach involves counterattacking early and putting bowlers under pressure instead of settling into a defensive mode.

After opener Rohit Sharma fell for 26 in the ninth over, Kohli chose to take the initiative, pushing New Zealand’s attack onto the back foot. He explained that in tricky situations, he now backs himself to counterattack rather than waiting too long, while still sticking to his strengths.

Experience making the difference
Kohli admitted that his approach would have been even more aggressive had India been batting first. While chasing, experience guided his decision-making, with the sole aim of taking the team to a position where victory could be achieved comfortably. That balance between aggression and composure ultimately proved to be the difference in the game.

Looking ahead to the future
Fondly known as King Kohli for his prolific run-scoring, the 37-year-old now features only in the ODI format after retiring from T20 and Test cricket alongside Rohit Sharma. With debates ongoing about their future, both stalwarts are widely expected to set their sights on the ODI World Cup in 2027, where Kohli may yet add more remarkable chapters to his extraordinary career.