Virat Kohli
The former India captain needs just 59 runs in the opening ODI against West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday to become only the second batter in men’s ODI history to reach the 15,000-run mark, joining Sachin Tendulkar in an exclusive club. Virat Kohli is once again on the cusp of an ODI milestone that would add another remarkable chapter to his extraordinary career.
Kohli has accumulated 14,941 runs in 314 ODIs and 302 innings at an average of 58.59, with 54 centuries and 79 fifties. Tendulkar remains the format’s leading run-scorer with 18,426 runs, meaning Kohli’s next landmark will place him alongside the player whose ODI records have defined Indian cricket for decades. He has scored 199 runs without being dismissed in two ODIs at the venue, including his sensational unbeaten 166 against Sri Lanka in January 2023. Tendulkar amassed 6,976 ODI runs in India. Kohli currently has 6,867, leaving him 110 runs short of overtaking the former India opener. He has scored those 6,867 runs in 130 matches and 127 innings, averaging 62.42, with 27 centuries and 36 fifties. The former India captain currently has 85 international centuries and remains on the path towards the 100-century landmark that Tendulkar was the first to reach.
Thiruvananthapuram has also been a productive venue for the right-hander. Kohli has another Tendulkar record in his sights, the most ODI runs scored in home conditions. Kohli’s home ODI numbers underline his consistency. Kohli’s pursuit of Tendulkar’s records extends beyond ODIs.