Virat Kohli follows Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting’s records in New Zealand ODI series

ByTech Word News

Virat Kohli will have two major batting milestones in his sights when India take on New Zealand in the five-match ODI series starting on November 4. The former India captain is closing in on Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most international runs against the Black Caps across formats and Ricky Ponting’s long-standing mark in ODIs.

Kohli scored 3,167 international runs in 60 matches against New Zealand, including 10 centuries and 16 half-centuries. He is 178 runs short of Tendulkar, who tops the list with 3,345 runs in 66 matches. England’s Joe Root is second with 3268 runs from 56 matches, while Ponting and Jacques Kallis complete the top five.

Most international runs against New Zealand

  • Sachin Tendulkar (India): 3,345 runs in 66 matches
  • Joe Root (England): 3,268 runs in 56 matches
  • Virat Kohli (India): 3,167 runs in 60 matches
  • Ricky Ponting (Australia): 3,145 runs in 69 matches
  • Jacques Kallis (South Africa): 3071 runs in 67 matches

Another major milestone in the 50-over format is within reach of the 37-year-old. Kohli amassed 1,897 runs in 36 ODIs against New Zealand at an impressive average of 57.48, with seven centuries and 10 half-centuries. He needs 74 runs to overtake Ponting, who leads the ODI scoring charts against the Kiwis with 1,971 runs in 51 matches.

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Kohli is also 103 runs away from becoming the first batsman to score 2000 ODI runs against New Zealand. Tendulkar is third on the list with 1,750 runs in 42 matches, followed by Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya.

Most ODI runs against New Zealand

  • Ricky Ponting (Australia): 1,971 runs in 51 matches
  • Virat Kohli (India): 1,897 runs in 36 matches
  • Sachin Tendulkar (India): 1,750 runs in 42 matches
  • Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): 1,568 runs in 47 matches
  • Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka): 1,519 runs in 47 matches

KOHLI’S RICH VEIN OF FORMS

Kohli will enter the series with a lot of confidence as he has enjoyed excellent form in 2026. He has scored 552 runs in nine ODI innings this year at an average of 69, making two centuries and three half-centuries. His highest score was against the West Indies when he smashed an unbeaten 139 off just 88 balls in Thiruvananthapuram in September.

He followed it up with scores of 29 and not out in the remaining two matches of the series to finish with 168 runs in three games. Earlier in the year, Kohli also contributed significantly against New Zealand, scoring 93, 23 and 124 in India’s three-match home series. His 124 in the third ODI in Indore helped underline his continued appetite for big scores against the Kiwis.

The upcoming series will also give Kohli an opportunity to add to his record in New Zealand. He scored 596 runs in 13 ODIs in the country at an average of 49.66, including one century and four half-centuries. He will be looking to add to that tally while helping India prepare for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

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