Group India batsman Virat Kohli is about to achieve a serious milestone in worldwide cricket forward of the three-match ODI collection in opposition to New Zealand. The veteran batsman has an opportunity to surpass Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara and develop into second within the all-time rating of males’s worldwide prime scorers.
Kohli skilled intensely together with his teammates in intense observe classes forward of the collection opener in Vadodara. The three-match ODI collection will start on January 11 on the BCA Stadium. This can be India’s first worldwide mission in 2026. After the ODIs, the crew will play a five-match T20I collection in opposition to New Zealand.
Virat Kohli 42 misses out on changing into second prime scorer
Kohli wants 42 extra runs to maneuver as much as second place amongst all-time males’s worldwide prime scorers. Kohli scored 27,975 runs, second solely to Kumar Sangakkara who completed with 28,016 runs.
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Sachin Tendulkar nonetheless has an enormous lead on the prime of the record of elite batsmen. Kohli can overtake Sangakkara with 624 innings, which is lower than the 666 innings it took Sangakkara to achieve the document.
| participant | inning | run | 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 Jayawarde | 725 | 25,957 | 39.15 | 54/136 |
| Jacques Callis | 617 | 25,534 | 49.10 | 62/149 |
Virat Kohli focuses on main ODI document in opposition to New Zealand
The 36-year-old wants 93 runs within the upcoming ODI collection to overhaul Sachin Tendulkar to develop into India’s highest run-scorer in opposition to New Zealand on this format. Kohli scored 1,657 runs in 33 innings in opposition to New Zealand, whereas Tendulkar scored 1,750 runs in 41 innings.
The senior batsman has proven excellent contact in 50-over cricket. For the reason that third ODI of the Australian tour, he has scored six consecutive fifty-plus scores in worldwide matches and the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
He scored an unbeaten 74 in opposition to Australia, adopted by an unbeaten 65 with a double century in opposition to South Africa, however fell simply wanting 100. Kohli then returned to the Vijay Hazare Trophy for the primary time in over a decade and gained back-to-back matches with knocks of 131 and 77.
India enters New Zealand ODI with confidence after South Africa collection win
India head into the New Zealand collection with a 2-1 win in opposition to South Africa within the dwelling ODI collection, with Virat Kohli successful the Participant of the Sequence award.
Within the ODIs between India and New Zealand, each groups performed 120 matches. India gained 62, New Zealand gained 50, seven matches led to inconclusive outcomes and one match led to a draw.
The latest 50-over encounter between the 2 was the 2025 Champions Trophy closing, the place Rohit Sharma-led India defeated New Zealand to clinch the title in Dubai.
India will even be boosted by the return of captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, who missed the final ODI collection in opposition to South Africa on account of harm.
Additionally learn: Virat Kohli’s lengthy affiliation with RCB home ends abruptly forward of IPL 2026
