Virat becomes India’s highest ODI run-scorer against the Black Caps
January 14, 2026: Virat Kohli once again stamped his authority on cricket history by surpassing Sachin Tendulkar to become India’s highest run-scorer against New Zealand in One Day Internationals. The landmark moment came during the second ODI of the ongoing series in January 2026, when Kohli went past Tendulkar’s tally with a boundary off the very first ball he faced. Having scored 93 runs in the series opener to draw level with the Master Blaster, Kohli now sits atop the Indian list against the Black Caps, though he still trails Australia great Ricky Ponting in the overall global standings.
This achievement adds to a remarkable run of milestones for Kohli in recent days. In the first ODI at Vadodara on January 11, he became the fastest player in cricket history to reach 28,000 international runs, achieving the feat in just 624 innings and eclipsing Tendulkar’s long-standing record. In the process, Kohli also overtook Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket, behind only Tendulkar.
Capping off a sensational week, Kohli reclaimed the No. 1 position in the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings on January 14, 2026, dethroning teammate Rohit Sharma. This marks his 11th stint at the top of the ODI rankings and his first return to the summit since July 2021. At 37, Kohli’s form shows no signs of fading, highlighted by five consecutive 50-plus scores in ODIs, underlining his enduring dominance in world cricket.