Virat Kohli added another major milestone to his ODI career during India's first ODI against West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27, 2026.
Kohli scored an unbeaten 139 from 88 balls as India defeated West Indies by eight wickets. During the innings, he reached his 55th ODI century and crossed the 15,000-run mark in men's ODI cricket.
Kohli became only the second batter to reach 15,000 ODI runs, joining Sachin Tendulkar, who finished his career with 18,426 runs in the format.
The latest milestone has renewed the statistical comparison between two of India's most prolific ODI run-scorers.
Kohli Reaches 15,000 ODI Runs
Kohli entered India's chase needing 59 runs to reach 15,000 ODI runs.
He reached the landmark with a boundary against Alzarri Joseph and continued his innings to finish unbeaten on 139.
Following the match, Kohli's ODI tally stood at 15,080 runs from 315 matches and 303 innings.
He also became the fastest batter to reach 15,000 ODI runs in terms of innings, reaching the milestone in 303 innings.
Tendulkar reached the same landmark in 377 innings.
Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar: ODI Stats
Statistic | Virat Kohli | Sachin Tendulkar |
|---|---|---|
ODI Matches | 315 | 463 |
ODI Innings | 303 | 452 |
Runs | 15,080 | 18,426 |
Batting Average | 59.14 | 44.83 |
ODI Centuries | 55 | 49 |
ODI Fifties | 79 | 96 |
Highest Score | 183 | 200* |
15,000 Runs | 303 innings | 377 innings |
Tendulkar remains the leading run-scorer in men's ODI cricket with 18,426 runs, while Kohli's 15,080 runs currently place him second in this comparison.
Kohli Moves Ahead in ODI Centuries
One of the biggest statistical differences between the two careers is their century tally.
Sachin Tendulkar finished his ODI career with 49 centuries. Virat Kohli has now reached 55 ODI hundreds.
Kohli therefore has six more ODI centuries than Tendulkar.
His latest century came against West Indies during India's successful chase of 296. Kohli's unbeaten 139 was his 55th ODI hundred and another addition to his long list of international milestones.
Tendulkar's ODI Run Record Still Stands
Although Kohli has moved ahead of Tendulkar in ODI centuries, Tendulkar remains ahead in total career runs.
Tendulkar scored 18,426 runs in 463 ODIs and finished with 49 centuries and 96 fifties.
He also became the first batter to score a double century in men's ODI cricket when he made 200 not out against South Africa in 2010.
Kohli currently has 15,080 ODI runs, leaving him 3,346 runs short of Tendulkar's final career aggregate.
The 15,000-Run Milestone: Kohli vs Tendulkar
The number of innings required to reach 15,000 ODI runs provides another interesting statistical comparison.
Virat Kohli: 15,000 runs in 303 innings
Sachin Tendulkar: 15,000 runs in 377 innings
Kohli reached the milestone 74 innings earlier than Tendulkar.
This is one of the clearest statistical differences between their ODI careers, although the two played in different eras and under different circumstances.
Kohli's ODI Batting Average
Kohli's current ODI batting average is 59.14.
Tendulkar finished his ODI career with an average of 44.83.
The difference reflects the consistency of Kohli's scoring throughout his ODI career, while Tendulkar's figures cover a much longer career spanning 463 matches and multiple phases of ODI cricket.
Career averages should therefore be viewed alongside factors such as matches played, batting position, opposition and playing conditions.
Kohli's 55th Century Against West Indies
Kohli's latest century came during a convincing Indian victory in the first ODI of the West Indies series.
West Indies scored 295/7 after Justin Greaves made 101.
India then chased the target in 41.4 overs, reaching 300/2.
Shubman Gill scored 110, while Kohli remained unbeaten on 139.
Gill and Kohli shared a substantial second-wicket partnership that helped India take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
What the Numbers Show
The statistical comparison between Kohli and Tendulkar highlights two different records.
Kohli has now scored more ODI centuries, while Tendulkar remains ahead in total career runs.
Kohli also reached the 15,000-run milestone in fewer innings, while Tendulkar's final aggregate of 18,426 remains the highest ODI run tally among the two.
Kohli is still active in ODI cricket, meaning his career statistics can change with every additional match and innings.
Tendulkar's numbers, meanwhile, represent his completed international career.
Virat Kohli vs Sachin Tendulkar: Key Numbers
Sachin Tendulkar: 18,426 ODI runs
Virat Kohli: 55 ODI centuries
Virat Kohli: 303 ODI innings
Sachin Tendulkar: 452 ODI innings
Kohli reached 15,000 runs: 303 innings
Tendulkar reached 15,000 runs: 377 innings
Virat Kohli ODI average: 59.14
Sachin Tendulkar ODI average: 44.83
Final Takeaway
Virat Kohli's 15,000-run milestone and 55th ODI century have added another significant chapter to the statistical comparison with Sachin Tendulkar.
Kohli has now moved ahead of Tendulkar in ODI centuries and reached 15,000 runs in fewer innings. Tendulkar, however, remains ahead in total ODI runs with 18,426 from 463 matches.
The two careers span different eras of international cricket, making direct statistical comparisons useful for understanding their records but not sufficient to capture every aspect of their careers.
With Kohli still active in ODI cricket, his final numbers will depend on how many more matches and innings he plays.
Stats Note: Kohli's figures reflect his ODI record following the India-West Indies first ODI on September 27, 2026. Tendulkar's figures represent his completed ODI career.
