Virat Kohli storms past Sangakkara to become No. 2 all-time run-scorer; only Sachin Tendulkar ahead

Vadodara: Virat Kohli added another major milestone to his glittering career as he surpassed Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket, sitting only behind Sachin Tendulkar on the all-time list.

Kohli reached the landmark during India vs New Zealand first ODI at the BCA International Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara, on Sunday, taking his overall tally beyond 28,016 international runs.

With this, the 37-year-old batter moved past Sangakkara’s career total of 28,016 runs, accumulated across 594 matches and 666 innings at an average of 46.77, including 63 centuries and 153 half-centuries.

At the very top remains Sachin Tendulkar, who holds the all-time record with 34,357 runs from 664 matches and 782 innings, scoring at an average of 48.25, with 100 international centuries and 164 fifties.

Earlier in the innings, Kohli also achieved another prestigious milestone by becoming the fastest cricketer to reach 28,000 international runs. He reached the mark in just 624 innings, eclipsing Tendulkar’s previous record of 644 innings, bettering it by 20 innings.

Kohli entered the match needing 25 runs to scale the 28,000-run peak, having already amassed 27,975 runs from 556 matches and 623 innings, averaging 52.58 with 84 centuries and 145 half-centuries across formats. During his 309th ODI appearance, he clipped a boundary off Adithya Ashok in the 13th over to breach the landmark.

Batting at No. 3, Kohli walked in following the dismissal of Rohit Sharma in the ninth over by Kyle Jamieson.