Virat Kohli roared back to form in the third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday, smashing an unbeaten 74 to shatter Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing world record for the most 50-plus scores in ODI chases. The 36-year-old reached the milestone in his 305th appearance, registering his 70th half-century or century while batting second—surpassing Tendulkar’s 69 such knocks. Kohli’s knock not only silenced critics after consecutive ducks in the series but also propelled him past Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer in ODI history with 14,235 runs in just 293 innings, trailing only Tendulkar’s 18,426.

Kohli’s resurgence came at a crucial juncture. Arriving under pressure after rare failures in Melbourne and Adelaide, he celebrated his first run with a fist pump—a rare display of relief—before settling into vintage rhythm. Partnering captain Rohit Sharma in an unbroken 168-run stand, Kohli anchored India’s chase of 237 with calculated aggression, striking seven boundaries in 81 deliveries. The partnership secured a nine-wicket victory, India’s first in the series, and earned Rohit Player of the Match honours. Kohli’s milestone, however, dominated headlines, reinforcing his reputation as the premier chase master in limited-overs cricket.

Beyond the record, Kohli’s climb up the all-time run charts highlights his extraordinary efficiency. While Sangakkara needed 380 innings for 14,234 runs, Kohli achieved the feat in 87 fewer knocks, boasting a superior average (58.2) and strike rate (93.5). Tendulkar remains the undisputed leader, but Kohli’s trajectory—especially in successful run-chases, where India has won 70 of the 71 matches he has scored 50-plus—positions him as the format’s most clutch performer. His latest feat adds to an already glittering resume: 50 ODI centuries (second only to Tendulkar’s 49), the most runs in World Cup history (1,793), and now the chase benchmark.

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Former teammate Irfan Pathan had urged Kohli pre-match to focus on strike rotation to unlock momentum, advice the maestro evidently heeded. From tentative early overs, Kohli accelerated seamlessly, punishing loose deliveries while shielding the tail. As India transitions leadership to younger hands like Shubman Gill in ODIs, Kohli’s Sydney masterclass serves as both legacy and inspiration. With the 2027 World Cup looming on home soil, his hunger remains undimmed. For a generation raised on Tendulkar’s dominance, Kohli’s record-breaking pursuit offers continuity—and proof that greatness, when challenged, often answers loudest on the biggest stages.

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