Virat Kohli Reaches 13,000 ODI Runs Milestone in New Zealand

Kohli Achieves Historic Milestone in ODI Cricket

On November 4, during the first ODI of a five-match series against New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland, former Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli reached a significant milestone in his career.

Having retired from Test and T20 formats, Kohli has been a key player in India's ODI lineup, consistently anchoring the innings. He returned to the field after his last ODI series against the West Indies in October, needing just 12 runs to hit the historic 13,000-run mark.

With India set to chase a target of 186 runs, adjusted to 143 runs in 32 overs due to rain interruptions, Kohli came in after Rohit Sharma's early dismissal and quickly scored the necessary runs to achieve this remarkable feat.

Kohli's Record at No.3 Position

The No.3 batting position has been synonymous with consistency in India's lineup for over a decade, and Kohli has made history by becoming the first player to score 13,000 runs from this position in ODI history.

He accomplished this in just 251 innings, making him the fastest player to reach this milestone. In comparison, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting scored 12,662 runs at No.3 but took 330 innings to do so, meaning Kohli achieved this landmark in 79 fewer innings.

Kohli is now second only to Sachin Tendulkar for the most ODI runs at a single batting position, with Tendulkar scoring 13,685 runs while batting at No.2 in 385 innings.

Kohli's Consistent Performance

Kohli's achievement of crossing the 13,000-run mark at No.3 in just 251 innings showcases his exceptional skill and longevity in the sport. He has maintained an impressive average of over 51 runs per innings at this position, accumulating 48 centuries and nearly 70 half-centuries.

His batting average of over 61 is the highest among players with more than 5,000 runs at No.3, significantly surpassing other greats like Ricky Ponting and Kumar Sangakkara.

Dominance Since 2009

Since 2009, Kohli has established himself as a dominant force at the No.3 position, consistently performing well across various conditions. His 13,000 runs can be divided into two phases: he scored 6,000 runs in 127 innings by June 2017 and reached 7,000 runs in another 124 innings.

Since June 2017, Kohli has maintained an average exceeding 60 in ODIs, regularly scoring over 750 runs each year. As captain, he has amassed 5,091 runs, including 20 centuries, at an average of 75.98.

Kohli's Recent Form

Kohli, who has retired from T20I and Test formats, is now focusing solely on ODIs, aiming to extend his career until the 2027 World Cup. He has participated in every ODI series since his Test retirement, showcasing his form and leadership in the middle order.

In his last 16 ODI innings since October 2025, he has scored 1,002 runs, including 4 centuries and 6 fifties, with an impressive average of 77.07 and a strike rate of 115.17, highlighting his remarkable resurgence in form.

Kohli's Overall ODI Career

Throughout his ODI career, Kohli has accumulated 15,183 runs, including 55 centuries and 80 fifties, with an average of 58.84 in 318 matches.