Vadodara, India saw history on Sunday, January 11, 2026. Virat Kohli became the fastest batter ever to score 28,000 international runs. He did it in just 624 innings. This broke Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record by a solid 20 innings. The Indian batter also moved to the second spot on the all-time international run-scorers list. Only Tendulkar sits ahead of him.
This milestone came during India’s chase against New Zealand in the first ODI. The BCA (Kotambi) Stadium crowd was buzzing. Kohli’s form has been strong, especially since he stopped playing Tests and T20Is in 2025.
Kohli Joins Elite 28k Club
Crossing 28,000 international runs is a rare feat. Only three batters have done it: Sachin Tendulkar, Kumar Sangakkara, and now Virat Kohli. Kohli reached this summit faster than anyone else. Tendulkar took 644 innings for 28,000 runs. Sangakkara needed 666 innings. Kohli, though, got there in just 624. That’s a significant difference.
He also surpassed Kumar Sangakkara’s career tally of 28,016 runs. This pushed him to the No. 2 position overall. It puts him directly behind Sachin Tendulkar in total international runs. Firstpost noted the exclusive nature of this 28k club. It’s a testament to his continued dominance in the game.
The Vadodara ODI Chase
The match was the first ODI against New Zealand. New Zealand batted first and posted a challenging 300/8 in their 50 overs. Devon Conway (56) and Henry Nicholls (62) provided a good start with a 117-run opening stand. Daryl Mitchell then added quick runs, scoring 84 off 70 balls. India needed 301 to win.
Kohli came to the crease needing 25 runs to hit 28,000. He needed 42 runs to overtake Sangakkara. He achieved both marks during a key partnership with India captain Shubman Gill. NDTV reported Kohli going past 28,016 runs in the 19th over of India’s chase. It was a crucial moment in the game and his career.
The ODI Maestro Continues
Kohli’s ODI consistency is well known. He retired from T20Is and Test cricket in 2025. He ended his Test career with 9,230 runs. But his focus shifted to ODIs, and he hasn’t slowed down. He had back-to-back centuries in the South Africa ODI series late last year. India won that series 2-1.
He also played the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring a century against Andhra and a fifty against Gujarat. This built a streak of six consecutive fifty-plus scores in List-A cricket. The Indian Express live blog highlighted his continuous pursuit of records. He already held the all-time ODI hundreds record, reaching 53 centuries against South Africa in December 2025. He’s a “chasing specialist,” averaging near 90 in successful ODI chases. That is what sets him apart.
Future Marks and Tributes
Before this New Zealand series, Kohli played his 309th ODI. This put him fifth on India’s all-time ODI appearances list, passing Sourav Ganguly. The Baroda Cricket Association also honored both Kohli and Rohit Sharma before the match. They called them “pillars of Indian cricket.”
Kohli is now also closing in on 15,000 ODI runs. If he reaches that, he’ll be only the second player ever to do so, again after Sachin Tendulkar. His place in cricket history gets bigger with every series. He’s one of three batters with 28,000-plus international runs, and he reached it the quickest. That’s a big deal. He’s India’s premier ODI batter. He continues to play at a high level.
Soureesh Datta 
Ishaan Singh