Virat Kohli will chase major batting milestones when India starts a five-match ODI series against New Zealand on November 4. The star batter needs 178 runs to beat Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most international runs against the Black Caps. He also eyes Ricky Ponting’s record for most ODI runs scored.
Virat Kohli will have two major batting milestones in sight when India take on New Zealand in a five-match ODI series, starting November 4. The former India captain is closing in on Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most international runs against the Black Caps across formats and Ricky Ponting’s long-standing mark in ODIs.
Kohli has scored 3,167 international runs in 60 matches against New Zealand, including 10 centuries and 16 half-centuries. He is 178 runs short of Tendulkar, who tops the list with 3,345 runs in 66 matches. England's Joe Root occupies second place with 3,268 runs from 56 matches, while Ponting and Jacques Kallis complete the top five.
Most international runs against New Zealand
Sachin Tendulkar (India): 3,345 runs in 66 matches
Joe Root (England): 3,268 runs in 56 matches
Virat Kohli (India): 3,167 runs in 60 matches
Ricky Ponting (Australia): 3,145 runs in 69 matches
Jacques Kallis (South Africa): 3,071 runs in 67 matches
The 37-year-old has another significant milestone within reach in the 50-over format. Kohli has accumulated 1,897 runs in 36 ODIs against New Zealand at an impressive average of 57.48, with seven centuries and 10 half-centuries. He needs 74 runs to surpass Ponting, who leads the ODI run-scoring charts against the Kiwis with 1,971 runs in 51 matches.
Kohli is also 103 runs away from becoming the first batter to score 2,000 ODI runs against New Zealand. Tendulkar is third on the list with 1,750 runs in 42 matches, followed by Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya.
Most ODI runs against New Zealand
Ricky Ponting (Australia): 1,971 runs in 51 matches
Virat Kohli (India): 1,897 runs in 36 matches
Sachin Tendulkar (India): 1,750 runs in 42 matches
Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka): 1,568 runs in 47 matches
Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka): 1,519 runs in 47 matches
KOHLI’S RICH VEIN OF FORM
Kohli will head into the series with plenty of confidence, having enjoyed an excellent run of form in 2026. He has scored 552 runs in nine ODI innings this year at an average of 69, registering two centuries and three half-centuries. His highest score came against the West Indies, when he smashed an unbeaten 139 off just 88 balls in Thiruvananthapuram in September.
He followed it up with scores of 29 and zero in the remaining two matches of the series, finishing with 168 runs across three games. Earlier in the year, Kohli had also made a significant contribution against New Zealand, scoring 93, 23 and 124 in India's three-match home series. His 124 in the third ODI in Indore helped underline his continued appetite for big scores against the Kiwis.
The upcoming series will also give Kohli an opportunity to strengthen his record in New Zealand. He has scored 596 runs in 13 ODIs in the country at an average of 49.66, including one century and four half-centuries. He will be keen to add to that tally while helping India prepare for the 2027 ODI World Cup.