Virat Kohli surpasses Sachin Tendulkar to own the most runs in ODI run chases

Virat Kohli became the batter with the most runs in ODI run chases on November 4, 2026, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's long-standing record during the first ODI between India and New Zealand at a rain-interrupted Eden Park in Auckland. A boundary off Blair Tickner in the 16th over carried Kohli past Tendulkar's tally, and by the close of India's successful chase, Kohli had accumulated 8,741 runs in ODI chases against Tendulkar's previous mark of 8,720.

Kohli's contribution to the chase was a composed 74 runs off 51 balls, which included 13 fours and one six. His innings provided the platform India needed, and the visitors sealed the first ODI by five wickets. The record-breaking boundary, struck off New Zealand pacer Tickner, arrived in the 16th over of India's pursuit.

The gap between Kohli and the rest of the all-time ODI run-chase list is substantial. Rohit Sharma occupies third place with 6,801 runs, while Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya is fourth with 5,742 runs. South Africa's Jacques Kallis rounds out the top five with 5,575 runs in ODI chases.

How does Kohli's run-chase average compare with Tendulkar's?

The volume of runs Kohli has scored in ODI chases is only part of the story. His average in those innings stands at 66.54, well clear of Tendulkar's corresponding figure of 42.23. That difference illustrates that Kohli has not simply played more matches than Tendulkar but has converted his chase innings at a considerably higher rate across his career.

Batting at number three, Kohli has been central to India's ODI chasing unit for well over a decade. The Auckland innings reinforced that consistency, with Kohli anchoring the pursuit before India closed out the match with five wickets to spare.

What other records did Kohli reach during the first ODI at Auckland?

The Eden Park fixture added further entries to Kohli's record book beyond the run-chase milestone. He became the only batter in ODI history to reach 13,000 runs while batting at number three, a position he has held for the majority of his international career.

Kohli also equalled Ricky Ponting's record of being the highest run-scorer against New Zealand in ODIs, drawing level with another of the game's all-time greats. Taken together, the run-chase record, the 13,000-run landmark at number three, and the Ponting comparison made the rain-affected Auckland match one of the more significant individual occasions of Kohli's ODI career.