Virat Kohli has surpassed legendary compatriot Sachin Tendulkar to become the highest run-scorer in the second innings of One Day International (ODI) cricket. Long regarded as one of the finest modern batters, the former Indian captain added another historic milestone to his illustrious career during the opening match of the five-match ODI series against New Zealand.
In a rain-affected encounter at Auckland, Kohli produced a masterclass in aggressive batting while anchoring India’s run-chase. Before falling just short of the finish line, he smashed a blistering 74 off 51 deliveries, an innings decorated with 13 boundaries and a towering six. The knock pushed his tally in second-innings ODI batting past Tendulkar’s long-standing benchmark.
For years, Tendulkar stood unmatched at the summit of run-chasing statistics. Prior to his retirement, the iconic Indian maestro had accumulated 8,720 runs from 232 second-innings appearances, featuring 17 centuries and 52 half-centuries. Kohli surpassed that milestone in significantly fewer outings. Across a 16-year international career, Kohli has amassed 8,741 runs in 169 chasing innings, boasting an astonishing record of 30 centuries and 46 fifties. The achievement places him within touching distance of becoming the first cricketer in history to reach 9,000 runs in ODI second innings.
The statistical gulf between the top contenders underlines the scale of Kohli’s dominance. Apart from Kohli and Tendulkar, no other batter in world cricket has managed to breach the 7,000-run mark in ODI chases. Third on the all-time list is another Indian star, Rohit Sharma, who has registered 6,801 runs in 163 second-innings outings, accompanied by 19 centuries and 40 fifties.
Kohli’s explosive knock in Auckland also propelled him to the top of another prestigious statistical chart. He now shares the record for the highest number of ODI runs scored against New Zealand alongside Australian batting great Ricky Ponting. While Ponting accumulated 1,971 runs across 50 innings against the Kiwis—with six centuries and 12 fifties—Kohli matched that total in merely 37 innings, backed by seven centuries and 11 half-centuries.
