Virat Kohli delivered an impressive performance in India’s first ODI against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on November 4, 2026. The experienced Indian batter scored 74 runs, helping India secure a five-wicket victory in the rain-affected contest. His innings also brought three significant milestones, further strengthening his position among the greatest players in ODI cricket. Kohli’s performance was particularly notable as he achieved a historic landmark at No. 3, moved past Sachin Tendulkar in ODI run chases and reached another major milestone in his career against New Zealand.
Virat Kohli Becomes First Batter to Score 13,000 ODI Runs at No. 3
One of the biggest achievements of the Auckland ODI was Kohli completing 13,000 runs while batting at the No. 3 position in One Day Internationals. He became the first batter in cricket history to reach this milestone.
Virat Kohli has scored 8,741 runs in ODI run chases, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar (8,720 runs) as the all-time leader in ODI chase history. https://t.co/MS5L9HZluu
— UPSC SCORE (@UPSCSCORE) November 4, 2026
Before the match, Kohli needed just 12 runs to achieve the landmark. He reached the target during his innings against New Zealand, adding another remarkable chapter to his international career. According to the match statistics, Kohli has scored 13,062 runs in 251 ODI innings at this batting position. His overall ODI tally has also reached 15,183 runs in 318 matches.
Kohli Surpasses Sachin Tendulkar in ODI Run Chases
Another major achievement came when Kohli moved ahead of Sachin Tendulkar in the list of batters with the most runs while chasing targets in ODI cricket. Following his 74-run innings against New Zealand, Kohli’s run tally in ODI chases increased to 8,741. Tendulkar had accumulated 8,720 runs during his career in the same category. Kohli has maintained an impressive average of 66.21 and a strike rate of 95.03 in ODI run chases. Tendulkar finished with an average of 42.33 and a strike rate of 88.44. This achievement further highlights Kohli’s reputation as one of the most dependable batters when India are pursuing a target.
Kohli Equals Ricky Ponting’s Record Against New Zealand
Kohli also matched former Australian captain Ricky Ponting’s record for the most ODI runs against New Zealand. With his 74 runs in Auckland, Kohli’s tally against the Black Caps reached 1,971, bringing him level with Ponting, who also scored 1,971 runs against the team. Sachin Tendulkar occupies the third position with 1,750 runs, followed by Kumar Sangakkara with 1,568 runs. Kohli’s latest achievement demonstrates his consistency against New Zealand and places him alongside some of the most successful batters in international cricket.
India Take 1-0 Lead After Auckland Victory
India’s victory was supported by an impressive bowling performance. New Zealand were dismissed for 185 in 40.2 overs, with Arshdeep Singh taking four wickets, Gurunoor Brar claiming three and Anshul Kamboj picking up two wickets. During the chase, Kohli and Shubman Gill built an important 113-run partnership for the second wicket. Gill contributed 37 runs, while Kohli’s 74 proved crucial in keeping India on course.
Rain interruptions reduced India’s target to 143 runs in 32 overs under the DLS method. The visitors eventually reached the target in 22.4 overs, losing five wickets. India have now taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match ODI series. The second match is scheduled to take place in Wellington on November 7, where Kohli will have another opportunity to add to his impressive collection of records.
