In a career already overflowing with milestones, Virat Kohli has added another jewel to his crown—becoming the fastest batter to reach 14,000 ODI runs. The historic feat came in India’s Champions Trophy clash against Pakistan in Dubai, as Kohli orchestrated a commanding chase with an unbeaten century, his 51st in the format.
Surpassing the Master
Before the match, Kohli was just 15 runs short of the milestone. True to his style, he didn’t just reach 14,000 ODI runs—he did it in the grandest way possible, sealing India’s six-wicket victory with a trademark cover drive for four. In doing so, he shattered Sachin Tendulkar’s record, achieving the landmark in 287 innings, a staggering 63 innings fewer than Tendulkar (350) and 91 fewer than Kumar Sangakkara (378), the only other batters to reach the milestone.
If that wasn’t enough, Kohli also became the fastest in terms of balls faced, taking just 14,984 deliveries to reach the mark—comfortably ahead of Tendulkar (16,292) and Sangakkara (17,789).
A Chasing Masterclass
For cricket lovers, watching Kohli in a chase is like watching a master painter at work—every stroke calculated, every movement precise. Against Pakistan, he was in his element, showcasing a mix of determination, composure, and elegance.
Former India captain Anil Kumble captured the essence of Kohli’s innings perfectly:
“He was just back to the way he bats. That says his mind was at ease. The challenge of playing Pakistan and the crowd must have lifted his game, and today, we saw him in sublime form.”
Unlike Tendulkar and Sangakkara, who also marked their 14,000th run with centuries but in losing causes, Kohli’s knock secured a famous victory.
“Virat Kohli Roars Back to Rule the Game”
The Fastest to Every Milestone
For years now, Kohli has been rewriting record books, and this was no different. Since reaching 8000 ODI runs in 2017, he has been the fastest to every 1000-run milestone that followed.
- Now sitting at 14,000 runs, Kohli is already knocking on Sangakkara’s tally of 14,234—a number he will likely surpass in the coming matches.
- Tendulkar’s all-time ODI record of 18,426? Still a distant peak, but with Kohli’s hunger, nothing seems impossible.
- He already holds the record for most ODI hundreds (51), having surpassed Tendulkar’s 49 during the 2023 ODI World Cup.
More Than Just a Batter—A Complete Cricketer
Kohli’s brilliance isn’t limited to just batting. Earlier in the match against Pakistan, he also broke the Indian record for most catches as a fielder in ODIs, moving up to 158 catches.
With each passing game, Kohli isn’t just rewriting history—he’s redefining greatness.
