Virat Kohli, often regarded as one of the modern greats of the game, embodies all these qualities and more. Over the last 15 years, Kohli’s unwavering commitment to the sport has taken the cricketing world by storm, and his impressive records are a testament to his greatness. In the 50-over format, he recently added another milestone to his illustrious career by breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most calendar-year ODI runs.
When we talk about Virat Kohli, we talk about records – tons of them! The relentless comparisons with cricketing legends like Sachin Tendulkar testify to his incredible consistency. As he walked onto the field against Sri Lanka at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, he was on the brink of another milestone. With 48 ODI centuries in his kitty, he was just one short of matching Tendulkar’s record of 49.
As the game unfolded, it took Kohli only a short time to accomplish this feat. Playing alongside Shubman Gill, he steadily built a solid partnership. He needed just 34 runs to reach 1000 ODI runs in a calendar year, a feat he has achieved for the record-breaking eighth time. In doing so, he surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s seven instances of scoring 1000-plus ODI runs in a calendar year.
While reaching the 1000-run mark in a calendar year was a significant achievement, it was just one part of Kohli’s incredible record-breaking spree. He also became the fastest player to amass 8000 ODI runs on the Asian continent. This remarkable feat was achieved during India’s ongoing World Cup clash against Sri Lanka in Mumbai. Kohli took only 159 innings to accumulate 8000 runs in the 50-over format in Asia, a milestone that cements his position among the cricketing greats.
With this achievement, Virat Kohli joins an exclusive club of elite cricketers who have surpassed the 8000-run mark in the ODI format on Asian soil. The other members of this club include Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, and Kumar Sangakkara. This is not just a testament to his skills but also to his adaptability and dominance in diverse conditions.
Most ODI Runs in Asia
- Sachin Tendulkar: 12067 runs in 281 innings
- Sanath Jayasuriya: 8448 runs in 268 innings
- Kumar Sangakkara: 8249 runs in 216 innings
- Virat Kohli: 8020* runs in 159 innings (Ongoing)
Most times scoring 1000+ ODI runs in a calendar year
8 – Virat Kohli (2011-14, 2017-19, 2023)*
7 – Sachin Tendulkar (1994, 1996-98, 2000, 2003, 2007)
Fastest to reach 8000 ODI runs in Asia:
159 Innings – Virat Kohli
188 Innings – Sachin Tendulkar
213 Innings – K Sangakkara
254 Innings – Sanath Jayasuriya
Most ODI runs in Asia
12067 – Sachin Tendulkar
8448 – Sanath Jayasuriya
8249 – Kumar Sangakkara
8000 – Virat Kohli
