Even though Virat Kohli couldn’t make a big score during India‘s 2nd ODI against New Zealand on January 14, 2026, it still didn’t stop him from breaking another historic milestone. While the superstar batter departed for a modest 23 off 29 balls in Rajkot, he achieved a feat that has stood for decades, further cementing his legacy as one of the game’s greatest.
Virat Kohli surpasses the master Sachin Tendulkar during 2nd ODI against New Zealand
During his stay at the crease today, Kohli officially surpassed Sachin Tendulkar to become India’s highest run-scorer against New Zealand in ODI history. He entered the match needing just one run to break the record and did so in signature style, dispatching a boundary on his very first delivery. Kohli now sits second on the all-time list of international run-scorers against the Black Caps, trailing only Australian legend Ricky Ponting.
ODI batting stats vs New Zealand
| Rank | Batter | Runs vs. New Zealand (ODIs) | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ricky Ponting (AUS) | 1,971 | 39.42 |
| 2 | Virat Kohli (IND) | 1,773 | 55.40 |
| 3 | Sachin Tendulkar (IND) | 1,750 | 46.05 |
| 4 | Kumar Sangakkara (SL) | 1,568 | 34.84 |
Kohli’s consistency against New Zealand remains unmatched in several key categories:
- Average: He maintains a remarkable average of 55.40 against the Kiwis.
- Home Dominance: In 20 home ODIs against New Zealand, he has amassed 1,238 runs at a staggering average of 72.82.
- Century King: He holds the joint-record for the most ODI hundreds against New Zealand (6), sharing the top spot with Ponting and Virender Sehwag.
The ‘King’ Kohli reclaims his throne
This record-breaking moment comes on the same day the ICC confirmed that Kohli has officially reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the Men’s ODI Batting Rankings. Dethroning teammate Rohit Sharma, this marks Kohli’s 11th stint at the summit and his first since July 2021. He has now spent a total of 825 days as the world’s top-ranked batter, the most by any Indian in history. The milestone in Rajkot follows a clinical performance in the series opener in Vadodara on January 11, where Kohli became the fastest player in history to reach 28,000 international runs.
- The Pace: He reached the mark in just 624 innings, shattering Tendulkar’s previous record of 644 innings.
- The Tally: He also moved past Kumar Sangakkara (28,016) to become the second-highest run-scorer in the history of international cricket, trailing only Tendulkar’s career total of 34,357.
