Virat Kohli added another milestone to his remarkable ODI career on Wednesday, becoming the first batter in the world to score 13,000 runs while batting at No. 3 in the format. The India star reached the landmark during the first ODI against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland.
Kohli needed 12 runs to complete 13,000 runs at the position and achieved the feat during India’s chase of 186. He scored his 12th run off the 13th ball of his innings, reaching the milestone in the seventh over.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting is second on the list, having scored 12,662 runs in 330 innings at No. 3. Kohli and Ponting remain the only two batters to have crossed the 10,000-run mark at the position in ODI cricket.
The latest achievement adds to Kohli’s standing among the format’s greatest run-scorers. He is currently the second-highest run-getter in ODI history and has several more milestones within reach during the ongoing series against New Zealand.
Kohli has scored 1,909 runs in 37 innings against the Black Caps. He is closing in on Ponting’s tally of 1,971 runs against New Zealand and could move to the top of that list with a substantial contribution in the series.
The 37-year-old also has an opportunity to join an exclusive group of Indian batters to have scored 1,000 or more international runs in New Zealand. Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Mohammad Azharuddin are the only Indians to have achieved the mark so far. Kohli needs 47 more runs to reach the milestone.
Another major record is in sight in ODI run chases. Since making his debut against Sri Lanka in Dambulla on August 18, 2008, Kohli has scored 8,679 runs in 169 innings while chasing in ODIs.
Tendulkar currently holds the record for the most runs in ODI run chases, with 8,720 runs in 232 second-innings appearances across his career. Kohli is closing in on the mark and has an opportunity to become the leading run-scorer in successful and unsuccessful ODI chases combined.
With multiple records within reach, Kohli’s performances in the five-match series could add further milestones to an already historic ODI career.
