Virat Kohli completes 15,000 ODI runs, faster than Sachin Tendulkar

Virat Kohli completed 15,000 ODI runs, reaching the landmark in his 303rd innings, 74 innings quicker than Indian cricket legend and his own idol Sachin Tendulkar managed. Kohli needed 59 runs to get there against West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram and reached the mark in just 46 balls, before raising both hands in respect towards his idol and acknowledging a standing ovation from the crowd.

Kohli walked into the chase with 14,941 ODI runs, but India had already done the early work. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill had taken India through the opening phase without allowing West Indies to establish much control, although both had their moments of fortune. Gill was dropped by Keemo Paul, while Rohit survived a chance before Alzarri Joseph eventually dismissed him for 32, leaving India 74/1 after 12 overs.

Kohli's arrival immediately changed the rhythm of the chase. There was no extended period of settling in as he took on Alzarri early, attacked anything loose and used the pace on offer. With Gill already well set, Kohli was able to play the more aggressive role and keep India moving at the required tempo.

The milestone was never far away, but Kohli's batting did not look dictated by it. He brought up his half-century in 40 balls, and with nine more needed for 15,000, he continued to take the attack on. Back-to-back boundaries took him from 50 to 59 and completed the landmark, after which Kohli raised both hands towards Tendulkar in a gesture of respect before turning to the Thiruvananthapuram crowd and acknowledging its standing ovation.

Tendulkar had reached 15,000 ODI runs in his 377th innings in 2007. Kohli has now done it in 303, putting him 74 innings ahead of his idol and former India teammate.

The significance of Tendulkar being the benchmark was not lost on Kohli. Tendulkar has long been an idol for Kohli, who has spoken about growing up watching him and taking inspiration from his batting and his ability to win matches for India.

Kohli had already overtaken Tendulkar as the fastest batter to 13,000 ODI runs, reaching that mark in 267 innings in 2023 compared with Tendulkar's 321. The 15,000-run landmark has now produced another sizeable gap between the two in terms of innings taken to reach the milestone.WEST INDIES, A FAVOURED OPPONENT

There was also some symmetry in the opposition. West Indies have been among Kohli's most productive ODI opponents, with 2,261 runs against them in 43 matches and 41 innings before this knock, including nine centuries and 11 fifties.

The way he started this innings fitted that record. Rather than allowing the significance of 15,000 to make him cautious, Kohli attacked the bowlers and kept India's chase moving alongside Gill, who had taken on the steadier role.

When Kohli completed the milestone, he was 59 off 46 balls, while India were well placed in the chase. The number itself was significant, but so was the manner in which he got there, with his half-century arriving in 40 balls and the final nine runs coming quickly.

Kohli is now only the second batter in men's ODI history to reach 15,000 runs, with Tendulkar still leading the all-time list on 18,426. The latest landmark, however, belongs to Kohli, who has reached the same mark in 303 innings, 74 fewer than the man he has long called his idol.

This is a developing story. It will be updated.- Ends