Team India batter Virat Kohli is on the verge of a huge milestone in international cricket ahead of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand. The veteran batsman has a chance to climb to second place on the all-time list of men’s international run-scorers, surpassing Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara.
Kohli has been training hard with his teammates in intense practice sessions ahead of the series opener in Vadodara. The three-match ODI series begins on January 11 at the BCA Stadium, marking India’s first international assignment of 2026. After the ODIs, the team will take on New Zealand in a five-match T20I series.
42 Runs Away from Second Place
Kohli needs just 42 more runs to move into second place on the all-time list of men’s international run-scorers. He currently has 27,975 runs, just behind Kumar Sangakkara, who finished with 28,016 runs.
Sachin Tendulkar remains far ahead at the top of this elite list, but Kohli can reach Sangakkara’s tally in 624 innings, fewer than the 666 innings Sangakkara took.
| Player | Innings | Runs | Average | 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 Jayawardene | 725 | 25,957 | 39.15 | 54/136 |
| Jacques Kallis | 617 | 25,534 | 49.10 | 62/149 |
Eyes on Another Record Against New Zealand
The 36-year-old also needs 93 runs in the upcoming ODI series to become India’s highest run-scorer against New Zealand in ODIs, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli has scored 1,657 runs from 33 innings against New Zealand, while Tendulkar amassed 1,750 runs in 41 innings.
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In Top Form Heading Into the Series
Kohli has been in excellent touch in 50-over cricket. Since the third ODI against Australia, he has scored six consecutive fifty-plus innings across international matches and the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
He scored an unbeaten 74 against Australia, followed by two centuries against South Africa and a 65 not out that narrowly missed becoming another hundred. Returning to the Vijay Hazare Trophy after more than a decade, Kohli produced back-to-back match-winning knocks of 131 and 77.
India Enter New Zealand Series with Confidence
India comes into the New Zealand series on the back of a 2-1 home ODI series win against South Africa, with Virat Kohli earning the Player of the Series award.
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In ODIs between India and New Zealand, the two sides have faced off 120 times. India has won 62, New Zealand 50, seven matches had no result, and one ended in a tie. Their most recent 50-over clash was the 2025 Champions Trophy final, where India, led by Rohit Sharma, beat New Zealand in Dubai to lift the title.
India will also benefit from the return of captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, both of whom missed the previous ODI series against South Africa due to injury.
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