Virat Kohli dethroned Sachin Tendulkar to become the king of ODI cricket

ByTech Word News

Virat Kohli on Wednesday added another milestone to his remarkable ODI career as he overtook Sachin Tendulkar to become the highest run-scorer in the history of the format while batting second.

Kohli moved to the top of the list during India’s first ODI against New Zealand as he scored a fluent 74 to guide the visitors to a five-wicket win. His innings took him to 8,741 in ODI run chases, moving past Tendulkar’s 8,720.

NZ vs IND, 1st ODI: Highlighting | Scorecard

The numbers underscore the consistency that has defined Kohli’s career. He reached the mark in 169 innings in 180 matches, while Tendulkar needed 232 innings in 242 matches to get his 8,720 runs second.

    Kohli’s average in these situations is 66.21, which is significantly higher than Tendulkar’s 42.33. He also hit 30 centuries and 46 half-centuries while batting second, compared to Tendulkar’s 17 hundreds and 52 fifties. Kohli’s strike rate is 95.03 against Tendulkar’s 88.44.

    The milestone adds to Kohli’s reputation as one of the most successful catchers in the game. His ability to pace the innings, handle the pressure and hit the target deep has been a defining feature of his ODI batting.

    Most runs in the chase in ODIs

    1. Virat Kohli (IND) – 8741 runs in 169 innings
    2. Sachin Tendulkar (IND) – 8720 runs in 232 innings
    3. Rohit Sharma (IND) – 6801 runs in 163 innings
    4. Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) – 5742 runs in 210 innings
    5. Jacques Kallis (SA) – 5575 runs in 158 innings

    KOHLI LEADS INDIA HOME

    The most recent record came in a rain-fed contest where India were set a revised target of 143 in 32 overs by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. Kohli joined captain Shubman Gill in a 113-run second-wicket partnership to set India on course after an early setback.

    Gill contributed 37 while Kohli anchored the chase with an innings that brought up his 80th ODI half-century. The knock came a day before his 38th birthday.

    King retires to applause after winning 74 games. Watch 1st ODI HERO VIDA India Tour of New Zealand NOW LIVE on Sony Sports Network, Sony Vizha and Sony LIV TV Channels. #SonySportsNetwork #SonyVizha #SonyLIV #NZvIND Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) November 4, 2026

    India eventually reached 143 for five in 22.4 overs, sealing a five-goal victory despite a late wobble. As a result, the visitors took an early lead in the five-match series.

    Earlier, India’s pace attack took advantage of overcast conditions to bowl out New Zealand for 185 in 40.2 overs. Arshdeep Singh led the charge with four wickets for 70 runs, while Gurnoor Brar took three for 44 and Anshul Kamboj took two for 22.

    Tim Seifert top-scored for New Zealand with 38, while Glenn Phillips made 30. Blair Tickner’s late counter-attack, which included four sixes in a 23-ball 34, lifted the hosts but could not get them past 200.

    Pursuing goals, setting standards. Virat Kohli makes it look all too easy! Watch HERO VIDA India Tour of New Zealand 1st ODI LIVE NOW on Sony Sports Network, Sony Vizha and Sony LIV TV Channels. #SonySportsNetwork #SonyVizha #SonyLIV #NZvIND Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) November 4, 2026

    For Kohli, 74 was more than just a winning contribution. It moved him past Tendulkar in a statistical category that has long reflected his mastery in the chase and added another record to his already extraordinary ODI career.

    – The end