Kohli crosses 15,000 ODI runs, only second man after Tendulkar
Synopsis
Virat Kohli just joined a club of one — or rather, two. In Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, he became only the second man in cricket history to score 15,000 ODI runs, eclipsing Tendulkar's pace to get there and doing it in 35 fewer innings. With 54 ODI centuries and one last World Cup on the horizon, Kohli's farewell lap is shaping up as a record-breaking procession.
Key Takeaways
Virat Kohli crossed 15,000 ODI runs on 27 September 2026 in Thiruvananthapuram , becoming only the second man after Sachin Tendulkar to reach the mark.
Kohli reached the milestone in 315 innings — 35 fewer than Tendulkar's 350 — making him the fastest ever to 15,000 ODI runs .
He holds the record for the quickest route to 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, 11,000, 12,000, 13,000, 14,000 and now 15,000 ODI runs.
Kohli has 54 ODI centuries — the most in any single international format — with no other batter having reached 35 .
Kumar Sangakkara ( 14,234 ), Ricky Ponting ( 13,704 ) and Sanath Jayasuriya ( 13,430 ) are the next-highest scorers behind Kohli and Tendulkar.
Kohli is expected to play his final ICC Men's Cricket World Cup next year in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia .
Virat Kohli on Sunday, 27 September became only the second men's batter in history to cross 15,000 runs in ODI cricket, joining Sachin Tendulkar in an elite bracket that no other man has entered. Kohli reached the milestone during India's chase of 296 against the West Indies in the first ODI at the Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram.
The Milestone Moment
Kohli, 37, reached the landmark in the 29th over with a commanding pull shot off Alzarri Joseph — a swivel and a crack to the deep midwicket fence that left the Thiruvananthapuram crowd on its feet. He paused briefly, raised his bat in acknowledgement, and shared a glove-punch and a hug with India ODI captain Shubman Gill, before refocusing on a chase that was far from over.
Fastest to 15,000 — By a Distance
Kohli required only 315 innings to reach the milestone, bettering Tendulkar's own mark of 350 innings when the Mumbai maestro crossed 15,000 in 2007. Tendulkar ultimately retired in 2012 with 18,426 runs from 463 matches. This also makes Kohli the fastest batter — men's or women's — to reach 15,000 ODI runs. He made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in August 2008.
The record adds to a long chain of Kohli speed-records in the format. He became the fastest to 10,000 ODI runs in 2018, reaching the mark in 205 innings, and holds the record for the quickest route to 8,000, 9,000, 11,000, 12,000, 13,000 and 14,000 runs in 50-over internationals.
Where the All-Time List Stands
Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, with 14,234 runs, is the only other batter to have crossed the 14,000-run mark in the format. Ricky Ponting (13,704) and Sanath Jayasuriya (13,430) complete the top five all-time ODI run-scorers. No active batter is within realistic striking distance of Kohli's tally.
A Career Built on Records
This is not Kohli's first raid on Tendulkar's most cherished records. He overtook Tendulkar's tally of 49 ODI centuries during the 2023 Men's ODI World Cup semi-final against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Kohli now holds 54 ODI hundreds — the most by any batter in a single international format — with no other batter having even reached 35.
With Kohli in imperious touch in Thiruvananthapuram, a 55th ODI century appeared well within reach. This comes as Kohli prepares for what is expected to be his final ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, scheduled to be held across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia next year.
Point of View
000-run mark is not just a number — it is a generational verdict. For nearly two decades, Tendulkar's ODI tally was treated as untouchable; Kohli has not merely touched it but reached it faster than anyone thought plausible. What is often missed in the milestone coverage is the structural dominance: Kohli holds the speed record to every major ODI run landmark from 8,000 to 15,000 — a consistency of acceleration that Tendulkar himself never quite managed. The more uncomfortable question for world cricket is what comes after: with Sangakkara a full 766 runs behind and no active batter remotely close, the top of the all-time ODI list risks becoming a closed chapter long before Kohli retires.
NationPress
27 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ODI runs does Virat Kohli have?
Virat Kohli crossed 15,000 ODI runs on 27 September 2026, during India's first ODI against West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram. He is only the second men's batter in history to reach that mark, after Sachin Tendulkar.
Who is the first batter to score 15,000 ODI runs?
Sachin Tendulkar was the first men's batter to score 15,000 ODI runs, crossing the mark in his 350th innings in 2007. He finished his ODI career in 2012 with 18,426 runs from 463 matches.
How fast did Kohli reach 15,000 ODI runs compared to Tendulkar?
Kohli reached 15,000 ODI runs in 315 innings, which is 35 fewer than Tendulkar's 350 innings, making Kohli the fastest batter in history to the milestone. Kohli also holds the speed record for reaching every major ODI run landmark from 8,000 to 15,000.
Who are the top five all-time run-scorers in ODI cricket?
Sachin Tendulkar leads with 18,426 runs, followed by Virat Kohli (15,000+), Kumar Sangakkara (14,234), Ricky Ponting (13,704), and Sanath Jayasuriya (13,430). Kohli is the only active batter in this group.
How many ODI centuries does Kohli have?
Virat Kohli has 54 ODI centuries — the most by any batter in a single international format. No other batter has even reached 35 ODI hundreds. He overtook Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI centuries during the 2023 Men's ODI World Cup semi-final against New Zealand.
