Kohli becomes second men’s ODI batter to reach 15,000 runs

Virat Kohli became only the second batter in men’s one-day international history to score 15,000 runs during India’s match against the West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram. Kohli needed 59 runs to reach the landmark and completed it from 46 balls. He arrived at the crease after Rohit Sharma was dismissed for 32, with Shubman Gill already established during India’s chase.

The milestone came quickly. Kohli brought up his half-century from 40 balls before taking the nine runs required to reach 15,000. After reaching the mark, he raised both hands towards Sachin Tendulkar, his idol, and acknowledged a standing ovation from the crowd.

Kohli reached the total in his 303rd innings, 74 innings faster than Tendulkar, who achieved 15,000 ODI runs in his 377th innings in 2007. Kohli had previously become the fastest batter to 13,000 ODI runs, reaching that mark in 267 innings in 2023 compared with Tendulkar’s 321. Tendulkar remains the leading run-scorer in men’s ODIs with 18,426 runs.

Kohli’s achievement makes him the second player to pass 15,000 in the format. West Indies have been one of Kohli’s most productive opponents. Before this innings, he had scored 2,261 runs against them in 43 matches and 41 innings, including nine centuries and 11 fifties.

His approach in Thiruvananthapuram was aggressive, with Kohli attacking loose deliveries while Gill provided a steadier presence in the chase. The supplied report described the match as a developing story and did not provide the final result.