Virat Kohli on Verge of Joining Sachin Tendulkar, Sangakkara in 28,000 Runs Club

Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli stands on the cusp of a historic milestone as he prepares for the first One-Day International against New Zealand on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. The former India captain is just 25 runs away from becoming only the third player in cricket history to reach the remarkable figure of 28,000 international runs across all formats. The elite list is currently headed by Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar, the all-time leading run-scorer, followed by former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara.

Kohli currently sits on 27,975 runs from 556 matches and 623 innings in international cricket, achieved at an exceptional average of 52.58. His tally includes 84 centuries and 145 half-centuries, underscoring his consistency and dominance across Test, ODI, and T20I formats. If he scores at least 25 runs in the upcoming ODI, he will join Tendulkar and Sangakkara in this exclusive club. More significantly, Kohli needs just 42 more runs to surpass Sangakkara’s total of 28,016 and claim the position of the second-highest run-getter of all time in international cricket.

This potential milestone comes at a crucial juncture for Kohli and the Indian team, who are looking to start the three-match ODI series strongly against a competitive New Zealand side. Kohli’s form will be closely watched, especially after his recent contributions in white-ball cricket and his continued leadership in the batting order under captain Shubman Gill. A big innings in Vadodara could not only push him past these landmarks but also set a commanding tone for India in the series.

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The achievement, if realized, would further cement Kohli’s legacy as one of the greatest batters in the modern era. His ability to accumulate runs at a prolific rate while maintaining a high average and converting starts into big scores has placed him among the all-time greats. Sachin Tendulkar remains the undisputed leader with over 34,000 international runs, but Kohli’s ongoing pursuit of records highlights his relentless drive even in the later stages of his illustrious career.

As the countdown to the milestone begins, fans and cricket experts alike are eagerly anticipating Kohli’s performance in the series opener. A strong showing against New Zealand’s pace and spin attack could see him etch yet another chapter in the record books, joining Tendulkar and Sangakkara in one of cricket’s most prestigious statistical milestones and reinforcing his status as a modern-day icon of the sport.

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