THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: India’s Virat Kohli became the fastest batter to reach 15,000 one-day international (ODI) runs on Sunday. He crossed the milestone against West Indies in his 303rd innings.
Kohli reached the mark with a boundary in the series opener at Greenfield International Stadium. Only Sachin Tendulkar had previously accumulated that many runs in the format.
Tendulkar needed 377 innings to reach the same total, leaving Kohli 74 innings ahead.
The former India batter remains the leading ODI run-scorer with 18,426 runs from 463 matches. Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara ranks third with 14,234 runs in 404 matches.
Australia’s Ricky Ponting follows with 13,704 runs from 375 matches, ahead of Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya on 13,430 runs in 445 appearances.
Kohli, 37, now plays only the 50-over format internationally. He and Rohit Sharma retired from Twenty20 internationals after India won the 2024 T20 World Cup.
His ODI career includes India’s 2011 World Cup victory under Mahendra Singh Dhoni. India later reached the final of the 2023 tournament at home, where Australia won the title.
Read: Virat Kohli Becomes Fastest to 28,000 International Runs in Historic ODI
Speaking to broadcaster JioStar on Saturday, Kohli said the 2027 World Cup would be his last appearance in the tournament.
(With input from AFP)