How did Virat Kohli achieve the milestone of 15,000 ODI runs faster than Sachin Tendulkar?

Virat Kohli reached 15,000 ODI runs in his 303rd innings, which is 74 innings quicker than Sachin Tendulkar, who achieved the milestone in 377 innings.

What records did Kohli break during his 139* innings against West Indies?

During his 139* innings, Kohli became the fastest player to 15,000 ODI runs and matched Tendulkar's record for the highest runs in ODIs in India, surpassing Tendulkar's total by reaching 7006 runs.

Why do Virat Kohli's ODI statistics differ significantly from Sachin Tendulkar's?

Kohli's statistics differ because he has played in a different ODI environment, leading to higher run rates and a greater conversion of fifties into hundreds, reflecting changes in gameplay and his batting position.

Virat Kohli's milestone madness: Not just Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar feat also matched in 139* vs West Indies

Virat Kohli, who only plays this format of cricket on the international stage, notched up his 55th career ODI century on Sunday

Updated on: Sep 28, 2026, 10:14:09 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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It was a milestone madness from Virat Kohli on Sunday in Thiruvananthapuram as the former India captain carved out a sensational 139 not out against the West Indies in the first ODI match of the three-game home series.

India's Virat Kohli celebrates after scoring a century during the first ODI against West Indies at the Greenfield International Stadium (HT_PRINT)

The star batter, who only plays this format of cricket on the international stage, notched up his 55th career ODI century, en route to his seventh-best knock in the format, which came in 88 balls, including 10 fours and nine sixes. This was also his second century at the venue in three ODI innings.

Earlier, the West Indies had scored 295-7 in 50 overs after being put into bat. In reply, openers Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma added 74 off 72 balls, before the India captain combined with Kohli to forge a 151-run stand off 132 balls for the second wicket and the visitors never got a chance to mount a comeback.

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Kohli eventually closed out the game with his 139 not out as India took an early 1-0 lead in the series with a resounding eight-wicket win inside 42 overs.

ALSO READ: Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar after 15000 ODI runs: Why the gap between them is more complex than it looks

Here is a look at all the records Virat Kohli broke during the first ODI match against the West Indies:

1.Kohli became the second batter in history to reach the milestone of 15,000 runs in ODI cricket, after Sachin Tendulkar (18426), and outlasted the legend in becoming the faster cricketer to the feat. He reached the mark in his 303rd innings, 74 more than Sachin. He also was quicker in terns of balls faced -- 15,950 balls compared to Tendulkar's 17,528.

2. It wasn't the only Tendulkar record he broke. The 139 not out took his tally to 7006 runs in ODI cricket in India, making him the only-ever batter to score 7000 ODI runs in a country, surpassing Tendulkar, who had scored 6976 runs in India.

3. The 55th career ODI ton was India's 10th against the West Indies, and here he matched his own record for the most hundreds in the format against a single opponent. He also has 10 centuries against Sri Lanka. Tendulkar stands next on the list with nine such knocks against Australia, same as Rohit Sharma.

4. Overall, he has 13 international centuries against the West Indies, equaling Sunil Gavaskar, who although faced the opposition in 38 matches, more than double of Kohli's tally (74).

5. The knock on Sunday took Kohli's tally to 338 runs in Thiruvananthapuram across three innings -- and that is the highest tally for a batter at a single venue in ODI cricket without being dismissed.

7. This was also his 60th List A century, and this time he equalled Tendulkar for the most in the format.

8. Kohli now also has 30 centuries in a chasing cause, 12 more than the next-best batter, Rohit, and of them, 25 have come in a winning cause.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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