In a monumental achievement that has sent waves through the cricketing world, Virat Kohli has eclipsed a legendary record held by the great Sachin Tendulkar. The iconic Indian batsman has now become the fastest player in history to amass 28,000 runs in international cricket across all formats.
The Milestone Moment
The historic feat was accomplished on 11 January 2026. Entering the match with a career tally of 27,975 runs, the 37-year-old batting maestro needed just 25 runs to cross the significant threshold. Kohli, known for his relentless pursuit of excellence, reached the landmark in fewer innings than any other cricketer before him, adding another glittering chapter to his illustrious career.
Surpassing the Legends
This achievement places Kohli in an even more exclusive pantheon of batting greats. He has now overtaken the previous benchmark set by his idol, Sachin Tendulkar. The Master Blaster had scored a mammoth 34,357 runs from 782 innings during his storied career. Another modern great, Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, had reached the 28,000-run mark in 666 innings, finishing with 28,016 runs.
Kohli's journey to this milestone is a testament to his consistency, fitness, and unparalleled hunger for runs over a long and dominant career spanning more than a decade and a half at the highest level.
What This Record Means for Cricket
Breaking a record associated with Sachin Tendulkar is considered the ultimate accolade in Indian cricket. This milestone is not just a personal triumph for Kohli but a historic moment for the sport. It underscores the evolution of the game, where modern players are scoring at faster rates and maintaining peak performance across all three formats—Tests, One-Day Internationals, and T20 Internationals.
The record solidifies Kohli's status as one of the most prolific and successful batsmen of all time. His ability to adapt, his fierce competitiveness, and his technical mastery across different conditions have been key to this incredible accumulation of runs.
As the cricketing community celebrates this new landmark, all eyes will now be on the next target. With Tendulkar's all-time aggregate of 34,357 runs still ahead, fans will eagerly watch to see how close the modern champion can get to the ultimate career run tally in the years to come.
