IND vs NZ, 1st ODI LIVE: Kohli reaches 28,000 international runs, breaks Sachin’s record

IND vs NZ, 1st ODI LIVE: Kohli reaches 28,000 international runs, breaks Sachin’s record

Kohli now has become the second highest run scorer in international cricket's history. Image | BCCI

During the first one-day international against New Zealand at Kotambi International Stadium, Virat Kohli reached yet another landmark in his incredible white-ball career. The former Indian captain, who came to bat at No. 3, scored his 28,000 international runs during the course of the inning, making him the fastest player ever to reach the milestone.

Kohli breaks Sachin Tendulkar’s record

Needing 25 runs to touch the milestone at the start of play against New Zealand, Kohli reached the summit in his 624th innings a staggering 20 innings faster than the "Little Master," Sachin Tendulkar.

At 37, on a day that also happened to be his daughter Vamika's 5th birthday, Kohli seemed less like a man chasing a record and more like a craftsman simply in love with his tools.

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Kohli becomes the third player ever to reach the landmark

Kohli is now only the third player in history to cross the 28,000-run threshold, joining an elite club that includes Tendulkar (34,357) and Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara (28,016).

However, it is the speed and efficiency with which Kohli has tracked down these titans of the game that leaves the cricketing world in awe.

With a flick off his pads against the Kiwi spinners, the stadium erupted as the scoreboard flickered to the historic number. It wasn't just a milestone; it was a reminder of a 17-year journey of excellence that spans across three formats.

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Chasing history in real-time

The record-breaking moment came while India was in pursuit of a challenging 301-run target set by the Black Caps. While individual accolades are rarely Kohli’s focus, this particular achievement carries significant weight in the race for the "Greatest of All Time" title.

Earlier in the day, the BCCI felicitated both Kohli and Rohit Sharma for their continued service to Indian cricket, a gesture that seemed to provide the perfect backdrop for the evening’s heroics.

By surpassing the 28,000-run mark, Kohli also moved within striking distance of overtaking Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer of all time, a feat he is expected to achieve before the current series concludes.

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Kohli came really focused and started hitting boundaries from the set go. The King eventually went on to score his 77th ODI fifty in just 44 balls, as we write the article.

Breakdown of Kohli’s 28,000 international runs

The breakdown of Kohli’s 28,000+ runs highlights a player who has dominated every corner of the globe and every style of the game:

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