Kohli closes gap with Tendulkar in India’s win
India’s seasoned campaigner etched his name in the history books with a match-winning knock in a thrilling contest in Vadodara.
Virat Kohli surpassed Kumar Sangakkara to claim the second spot in the all-time men’s international run-scoring charts.
The former India skipper is now only behind the great Sachin Tendulkar in the illustrious tally.
Kohli crossed the milestone during his stellar knock of 93, continuing his red-hot form with the bat for India in ODIs.
The innings, laced with eight fours and a maximum, marked his fifth fifty plus score in as many innings.
Most runs in men's international cricket
| Player (Country) | Runs |
|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar (India) | 34,357 |
| Virat Kohli (India) | 28,068 |
| Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) | 28,016 |
| Ricky Ponting (Australia) | 27,483 |
| Mahela Jayawardena (Sri Lanka) | 25,957 |
Speaking on his latest feat, Kohli said afterwards, “If I look back at my whole journey, it's nothing short of a dream come true.
“I always knew my abilities and had to work to get where I have.
“Honestly, the way I'm playing, I'm not thinking about the milestones. If we were batting first, I would have gone harder. “
Chasing 301, Kohli laid the foundation for India’s win. With the hosts having lost Rohit Sharma early on, Kohli stitched together a 118-run stand with captain Shubman Gill for the second wicket.
Even after India lost the wicket of Gill, the 37-year-old continued to hold his end with the bat. Gill was all praise for the seasoned campaigner’s brilliant run with the bat.
“The way he’s (Kohli) striking the ball at the moment makes things look so easy, even on a surface like this where it wasn't easy to start, he made it look easy,” he said post-match.
India would go to clinch a four-wicket triumph to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. The two teams will next square off on January 14 in Rajkot.
