Virat Kohli Breaks Barriers: Fastest to 28,000 International Runs!

King Kohli Eclipses Sachin in Epic Milestone Chase

In the electrifying opener of the India vs New Zealand ODI series on January 11, 2026, Virat Kohli etched his name deeper into cricket folklore by becoming the fastest batter to amass 28,000 runs across all international formats. Surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar by a whopping 20 innings, Kohli achieved this feat as only the third man ever to scale 'Mount 28K'. His unbeaten knock not only propelled India to victory but also reignited debates on the greatest of all time. With unwavering consistency and sheer brilliance, Kohli continues to inspire a new generation of cricketers worldwide.

• Virat Kohli becomes fastest to 28000 international runs
• How many innings did Kohli take to reach 28000 runs
• Kohli breaks Sachin Tendulkar's record in 2026
• Virat Kohli fastest 28000 runs comparison with Sachin

On a historic Sunday at the Kotambi International Stadium in Vadodara, Virat Kohli once again proved why he's called the modern-day GOAT of batting. In the thrilling 1st ODI of the India vs New Zealand series (January 11, 2026), the 37-year-old maestro became the fastest batter in cricket history to reach 28,000 international runs across all formats – achieving the feat in just 624 innings, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's mark of 644 innings by a massive 20 innings!

Kohli entered the match needing only 25 runs. He crossed the milestone with a trademark boundary off New Zealand spinner Adithya Ashok in the 13th over – a moment that sent the crowd into ecstasy. Not stopping there, he also overtook Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket history (behind only Sachin). His fluent knock of 93 off 91 balls (8 fours, 1 six) laid the perfect foundation as India chased down New Zealand's 300/8, winning by 4 wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

This milestone is extra special: Kohli joins an elite club with only Sachin (34,357 runs) and Sangakkara (28,016 runs) ahead of him in total runs. His incredible consistency shines through – an average of 52.58, 84 centuries, and 145 half-centuries across 556 matches. At this rate, the chase for Sachin's all-time record feels very much on!

A true inspiration for millions, Kohli's hunger and class continue to redefine greatness. The King is still ruling!