In a career defined by record-breaking achievements, Virat Kohli added another extraordinary chapter to his legacy on Saturday, January 11, 2026, when he became the fastest batsman in cricket history to amass 28,000 runs in international cricket.

The moment of history arrived in the 13th over of India's run chase against New Zealand at the Moti Bagh Stadium in Vadodara. Facing Black Caps spinner Adithya Ashok, Kohli dispatched a delivery to the boundary rope, and with that single shot, he surpassed his idol Sachin Tendulkar's long-standing record. While Tendulkar needed 644 innings to reach the milestone, Kohli accomplished it in just 624 innings, an advantage of 20 innings that underscores his remarkable consistency.

The achievement also saw Kohli surge past Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara's career tally of 28,016 runs to become the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket history. Only Tendulkar, with his seemingly unreachable total of 34,357 runs, now stands ahead of the Indian superstar in the all-time charts.

Kohli's 28,000 runs paint a picture of dominance across all formats of the game. His ODI record remains particularly stellar with 14,650 runs at an average of 58.60, complemented by 53 centuries. In Test cricket, he has accumulated 9,230 runs with 30 hundreds, while his T20 International contribution stands at 4,188 runs including a solitary century.

The record-breaking performance came during a match that showcased everything that makes Kohli one of the sport's all-time greats. After New Zealand posted a challenging total of 300 for 8, powered by Daryl Mitchell's fluent 84 and half-centuries from Henry Nicholls (62) and Devon Conway (56), India needed a measured yet aggressive approach to their chase.

Kohli delivered precisely that, crafting a masterful innings of 93 runs from 91 deliveries. His knock featured eight boundaries and one maximum, combining the technical excellence and calculated aggression that have defined his career. Alongside Shubman Gill, who contributed 56 runs, and Shreyas Iyer with 49, Kohli anchored the Indian innings superbly.

Though Kyle Jamieson's four-wicket haul threatened to derail India's pursuit, with Kohli himself falling in the 40th over just seven runs short of what would have been his 54th ODI century, the foundation laid by the former captain proved decisive. A crucial 37-run partnership between KL Rahul, who finished unbeaten on 29 off 21 balls, and Harshit Rana guided India home with an over to spare.

The victory gave India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with the second ODI scheduled for January 14 in Rajkot. For Kohli, who earned Player of the Match honors for his record-breaking knock, the pursuit of Tendulkar's overall record continues.

At 37, Kohli shows no signs of slowing down. His fitness levels reportedly rival players a decade younger, and his hunger for runs remains insatiable. With nearly 6,000 runs still needed to overtake Tendulkar's aggregate, the journey ahead is long. But if anyone can bridge that gap, it is the man who has just proven once again that records are made to be broken.