New Delhi, India — India’s Virat Kohli became the second-highest run-scorer across all formats of international cricket after a match-winning knock of 93 in the first One-Day International (ODI) against New Zealand.
With the innings, Kohli surpassed Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara (28,016 runs) to move into second place on the all-time list of international run-scorers, trailing only India legend Sachin Tendulkar (34,357 runs). Kohli now has 28,068 runs across Tests, ODIs, and T20 internationals since making his debut for India in an ODI against Sri Lanka in 2008.
“If I look back at my whole journey, then it is nothing short of a dream come true for me,” Kohli said after being named Player of the Match in Vadodara. “I have always known my abilities, but I also knew I had to work extremely hard to get where I am today. I look back at my journey with a lot of grace and gratitude, and I feel really proud of it.”
Kohli’s 91-ball knock guided India to a successful chase of 301, with the hosts winning by four wickets and six balls to spare to take a 1–0 lead in the three-match series. The innings marked his fifth consecutive 50-plus score in ODIs, including two centuries, though he narrowly missed out on what would have been his 54th ODI hundred.
“If I am being brutally honest, the way I’m playing right now, I’m not thinking about milestones at all,” the former India captain said.
In his 17th year of international cricket, Kohli continues to evolve his approach. Batting at first drop after opener Rohit Sharma was dismissed for 26, Kohli chose to counterattack rather than settle into a defensive mode, putting the New Zealand bowlers under pressure early in his innings.
“There’s no point waiting around for too long,” he explained. “You still stick to your strengths, but you back yourself enough to put the opposition on the back foot.”
Kohli added that his approach might have been more aggressive had India been batting first, but experience guided him during the chase. “The only thing on my mind was getting the team into a position where we could win comfortably. That actually ended up being the difference in the game,” he said.
Popularly known as “King Kohli” for his prolific run-scoring, the 37-year-old now features only in the ODI format after he and Sharma retired from T20 and Test cricket. With their futures widely discussed, both veterans are believed to be targeting the 2027 ODI World Cup as their next major goal.
SOURCE : AGENCIES VIA AFP | Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube
