Virat Kohli broke Ricky Ponting’s record to enter the top five elite list

India’s Virat Kohli (ANI Photo) Virat Kohli added another milestone to his scintillating career during the second ODI against England when he got past Australian great Ricky Ponting to become the fifth highest wicket taker in the history of international cricket. The match marked Kohli’s 561st international appearance, moving him ahead of Ponting on 560 matches. Only four players now stand above the former Indian captain on the all-time list, with Sachin Tendulkar still holding the record.

Most international appearances

PlayerSpanMatchesSachin Tendulkar1989-2013664Mahela Jayawardene1997-2015652Kumar Sangakkara2000-2015594Sanath Jayasuriya1989-2011586Virat Kohli2008-2011586Pont Kohli2008-2011596 Dhoni2004-2019538 Kohli celebrated the milestone with another composed innings, scoring 65 off 66 balls before falling to Jofro Archer in the second consecutive ODI of the series. Re-engaged in the attack to break India’s flourishing partnership, Archer hit a backside delivery that forced Kohli into a mistimed pull. The ball flew off the top edge and Adil Rashid completed a comfortable run from third man. Before his recall, Kohli played a key role in stabilizing India’s innings. He first added 60 runs with Rohit Sharma after the opener made 26, before combining for 67 runs with Shreyas Iyer to put India in the lead. Kohli also achieved another remarkable feat in his half-century. It was his 14th score of 50 or more in ODIs against England, bringing him level with West Indies legend Viv Richards for the second most such scores against the opposition. Only Kumar Sangakkara is ahead of the Indian batting star who has more than 15 points against England. Kohli’s latest milestone further underlines his remarkable longevity across formats. Since his international debut in 2008, the 37-year-old has amassed more than 28,000 international runs, becoming one of the few cricketers to have appeared in more than 560 matches for his country.