It seems that each run that Virat Kohli scores these days sets some kind of milestone or record. On the fourth and penultimate day of the second India-Bangladesh Test on September 30 in Kanpur, the Delhi batsman scored a rapid-fire 35-ball 47 in India’s first innings total of 285 for five declared, and set yet another milestone. In the second innings, he scored an unbeaten 29 to help India win the match, and the series 2-0.
Kohli, 35, became the first batsman in cricket history to reach 27,000 international runs — comprising Test, One-day International, and T20 International formats — in less than 600 innings (594th) and the fewest matches (535). He thus became the fastest to achieve 27,000 runs, erasing legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s mark of 623 innings (Kohli took 29 fewer innings). At the end of the Kanpur Test, Kohli’s grand tally stood at 27,041 runs.
Despite achieving this significant milestone, Kohli remains in fourth position on the list of all-time top scorers in combined international cricket. Tendulkar, with a gigantic tally of 34,357 runs in 782 innings across 664 matches, occupies the top spot. Retired Sri Lankan captain and wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara is second, though far behind Tendulkar’s tally, with 28,016 runs in 594 matches/666 innings. Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting is third with an aggregate of 27,483 runs in 560 matches/668 innings. Ponting’s tally will be Kohli’s next target.
Kohli’s record average soars as he nears 9,000 Test runs
While Kohli is a massive 7,316 runs short of Tendulkar’s overall tally, the consolation for the Delhi batsman is that he continues to have the best combined average (53.23) not just among the three batsmen above him — all retired — but also among all those with 10,000-plus runs in the three formats of the game. Overall, Kohli now has an aggregate of 27,041 runs in 535 international matches, with 80 centuries.
At the end of the Kanpur Test, Kohli’s overall career statistics are a treat to look at. In Test matches, he is just 53 runs short of 9,000 (8,947) runs, 48.89 average, 29 centuries in 115 matches). In 295 ODIs, the maestro has amassed 13,906 runs, scored at an excellent average of 58.18, with 50 centuries. And in 125 T20Is, the right-hander has aggregated 4,188 runs at 48.69, with a solitary century.
Kohli eyes Tendulkar’s century record
Tendulkar is the only cricketer in the world to have hammered 100 international centuries; the next best is Kohli with 80. Among currently playing batsmen, England’s Joe Root has 50 centuries, India captain Rohit Sharma has slammed 48, New Zealander Kane Williamson has 45, and Australia’s Steve Smith has 44.
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To catch Tendulkar’s record of centuries, Kohli will have to play big innings consistently. He is just about a month short of turning 36 and has already given up one of the three formats — T20Is. Since age and fitness will be factors for him from now on in his chase of 100 centuries, he will need to remain focused on Tests and ODIs, the formats he still plays.
However, Kohli has not scored a century in his last eight Test innings. Fortunately for him, after the Bangladesh series, India are scheduled to play 13 more Test matches until July 2025. These include a three-match home series against New Zealand, starting on October 16 at his familiar M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, followed by two five-Test series in Australia and England. These matches will provide him with a golden opportunity to strive for Tendulkar’s 100 tons.
