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Virat Kohli Eyes a Record Rush in the New Zealand ODI Series
The stage is set for a blockbuster. India open a five-match ODI series against New Zealand on Wednesday, November 4, and Virat Kohli is closing in on a long list of records. From Sachin Tendulkar’s marks to Ricky Ponting’s, plenty of history could fall in this series.
Kohli and Rohit Return With Records in Sight
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are back in action, and fans are counting down to the first ball. All eyes will be on Kohli, who sits within touching distance of several landmarks.
Some of them are just a handful of runs away. Others need a single big innings. Together they could make this series one of the most memorable of his ODI career.
The Big Milestones at a Glance
Here is a quick look at what Kohli needs to rewrite the record books during the New Zealand series.
| Record | Kohli Needs |
|---|---|
| Most List A centuries | 1 century |
| Most runs in ODI run-chases | 54 runs |
| Leading run-scorer against NZ in ODIs | 75 runs |
| First to 2,000 ODI runs against NZ | 103 runs |
| Most international runs against NZ | 179 runs |
| First to 13,000 ODI runs at No. 3 | 12 runs |
| Most 50+ scores against SENA teams | 1 fifty-plus score |
A Century Away From Sole Ownership
Kohli is currently tied with Sachin Tendulkar on 60 List A centuries. One more hundred would move him clear at the top of that list.
| Player | List A Centuries |
|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 60 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 60 |
| Graham Gooch | 44 |
| Graeme Hick | 40 |
| Rohit Sharma | 39 |
The gap to the rest of the field is huge, which shows how dominant this pair has been.
Run-Chase Master Closing In on Tendulkar
Chasing has always brought out the best in Kohli. He now needs only 54 runs to pass Tendulkar’s record for most runs in ODI run-chases.
| Player | Runs in ODI Chases |
|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | 8,720 |
| Virat Kohli | 8,667 |
| Rohit Sharma | 6,801 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | 5,742 |
| Jacques Kallis | 5,575 |
Rohit Sharma Still Third on the List
Rohit sits third in this table, well clear of Jayasuriya and Kallis. The two Indian batters dominate chasing records in the modern era.
The New Zealand Factor
New Zealand have often seen the best of Kohli, and this series could add more milestones to his record against them. Several of the biggest ones are in play.
Ponting’s Record Under Threat
Kohli needs just 75 runs to overtake Ricky Ponting as the leading ODI run-scorer against New Zealand. He is also 103 runs short of becoming the first player to reach 2,000 ODI runs against them.
| Player | ODI Runs vs New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Ricky Ponting | 1,971 |
| Virat Kohli | 1,897 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 1,750 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | 1,578 |
Chasing Tendulkar Across Formats
Across all international cricket, Kohli is 179 runs short of Tendulkar’s record against New Zealand. That is a realistic target over five matches.
| Player | International Runs vs New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | 3,345 |
| Joe Root | 3,268 |
| Virat Kohli | 3,167 |
| Ricky Ponting | 3,145 |
13,000 Runs at No. 3 Is Almost There
The most immediate milestone is the smallest. Kohli has 12,988 runs in 250 innings at an average of 61.55, so he needs only 12 more to become the first player to reach 13,000 ODI runs at No. 3.
| Player | ODI Runs at No. 3 |
|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 12,988 |
| Ricky Ponting | 12,662 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | 9,747 |
| Jacques Kallis | 7,774 |
Another Mark Against SENA Teams
Kohli also needs just one fifty-plus score to hold the record for most 50+ scores against SENA teams. It is a small ask for a batter of his consistency.
What Could Happen Next
The first ODI could bring the 13,000 mark almost immediately, and the chase and New Zealand records could fall soon after. A century would do far more, moving Kohli past Tendulkar on the List A list.
With five matches ahead, the question is not whether Kohli will set new marks. It is how many he will set, and how quickly.
