Crew India batter Virat Kohli is on the verge of a serious milestone in worldwide cricket forward of the three-match ODI sequence in opposition to New Zealand. The veteran batter has the possibility to maneuver into second place on the all-time listing of males’s worldwide run-scorers, surpassing Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara.
Kohli educated onerous together with his teammates in an intense follow session forward of the sequence opener in Vadodara. The three-match ODI sequence will begin on January 11 on the BCA Stadium. It is going to be India’s first worldwide project of 2026. After the ODIs, the group will play a five-match T20I sequence in opposition to New Zealand.
Virat Kohli 42 Runs Away From Turning into Second-Highest Run-Scorer
Kohli wants 42 extra runs to maneuver into second place on the all-time listing of males’s worldwide run-scorers. Kohli has scored 27,975 runs, simply behind Kumar Sangakkara, who completed with 28,016 runs.
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Sachin Tendulkar stays far forward on the high of the elite batters listing. Kohli can cross Sangakkara in 624 innings, fewer than the 666 innings Sangakkara took to succeed in his tally.
| Participant | Innings | Runs | Common | 100/50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | 782 | 34,357 | 48.52 | 100/164 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | 666 | 28,016 | 46.77 | 63/153 |
| Virat Kohli | 623 | 27,975 | 52.58 | 84/145 |
| Ricky Ponting | 668 | 27,483 | 45.95 | 71/146 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 725 | 25,957 | 39.15 | 54/136 |
| Jacques Kallis | 617 | 25,534 | 49.10 | 62/149 |
Virat Kohli Eyes Main ODI Report Towards New Zealand
The 36-year-old wants 93 runs within the upcoming ODI sequence to grow to be India’s highest run-scorer in opposition to New Zealand within the format, going previous Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli has scored 1,657 runs in opposition to New Zealand from 33 innings, whereas Tendulkar completed with 1,750 runs in 41 innings.
The senior batter has been in excellent contact in 50-over cricket. For the reason that third ODI of the Australia tour, he has registered six straight fifty-plus scores throughout worldwide matches and the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
He scored an unbeaten 74 in opposition to Australia, adopted by two centuries in opposition to South Africa and a 65 not out that narrowly missed changing into one other hundred. Kohli then returned to the Vijay Hazare Trophy after greater than a decade and produced back-to-back match-winning knocks of 131 and 77.
India Enter New Zealand ODIs Excessive on Confidence After South Africa Sequence Win
India come into the New Zealand sequence after profitable a house ODI sequence in opposition to South Africa by 2-1, with Virat Kohli incomes the Participant of the Sequence award.
In ODIs between India and New Zealand, the 2 groups have performed 120 matches. India have gained 62, New Zealand have gained 50, seven video games had no consequence, and one resulted in a tie.
Their most up-to-date 50-over assembly got here within the 2025 Champions Trophy remaining, the place India, led by Rohit Sharma, beat New Zealand to carry the title in Dubai.
India may even be boosted by the return of captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, each of whom missed the earlier ODI sequence in opposition to South Africa as a result of harm.
Additionally learn: Virat Kohli’s longstanding relationship with RCB’s dwelling abruptly ends forward of IPL 2026
