Virat Kohli added yet another landmark to his storied career by surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing tally of ODI runs against New Zealand. The achievement came during the second match of India’s ODI series against the Black Caps in January 2026.

Kohli began the series level with Tendulkar after scoring 93 in the opening game. He wasted no time in claiming the record, crossing the mark with a boundary off the very first delivery he faced in the second ODI. With that stroke, Kohli became India’s most successful run-scorer against New Zealand in the 50-over format.

Although Kohli now leads among Indian batters, he still trails former Australia captain Ricky Ponting on the overall list of players with the most ODI runs against New Zealand.

Most ODI Runs vs New Zealand:

• Ricky Ponting (Australia): 1,971 runs in 51 matches

• Virat Kohli (India): 1,751+ runs in 35 matches

• Sachin Tendulkar (India): 1,750 runs in 42 matches

• Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka): 1,519 runs in 47 matches

This record was part of an exceptional run of milestones for Kohli. Earlier in the series, during the first ODI in Vadodara on January 11, he became the fastest cricketer in history to reach 28,000 international runs. Kohli achieved the feat in 624 innings, eclipsing Tendulkar’s previous benchmark of 644 innings.

In doing so, he also moved ahead of Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket, with only Tendulkar remaining ahead of him.

Kohli’s remarkable form has also propelled him back to the summit of world cricket. On January 14, 2026, the ICC confirmed that he had reclaimed the No. 1 position in the men’s ODI batting rankings, overtaking teammate Rohit Sharma. This marked Kohli’s first return to the top spot since July 2021 and his 11th separate stint as the world’s leading ODI batter.

At 37, Kohli continues to defy age, highlighted by a stunning sequence of five consecutive half-centuries in ODIs, underlining his enduring dominance in the format.