IND vs AUS: Only behind great Sachin Tendulkar! Virat Kohli rewrites record books at SCG | Cricket News – The Times of India

Team India batter Virat Kohli added another golden page to his illustrious one-day record books on Saturday, becoming the second-highest run-getter in ODI history and moving past Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara’s tally of 14,234 runs. The Indian batting great now stands at 14,235 runs in 293 innings, only behind Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time record of 18,426 runs.

Most runs in ODIs

At the Sydney Cricket Ground, where India looked to avoid a whitewash against Australia, Kohli produced another composed knock, anchoring the chase alongside Rohit Sharma. His half-century, maiden one in this three-match series after two consecutive ducks, not only stabilised India’s innings after skipper Shubman Gill’s early dismissal but also added to a list of remarkable personal milestones.

Kohli’s fifty marked his 24th 50-plus score against Australia in ODIs, equalling Sachin Tendulkar’s record — though Kohli has achieved it in just 51 innings, compared to Tendulkar’s 70. The innings also took his total tally against Australia in ODIs to over 2,500 runs, further reinforcing his reputation as one of the finest batters against the world champions.Kohli’s partnership with Rohit Sharma, a century stand, their first in any format since January 2020, was vintage Indian cricket. The pair batted with calm precision, mixing strike rotation with authoritative boundaries to keep India well ahead of the required rate. Kohli, true to his nickname “Chasemaster”, once again seemed in complete control of the pursuit, registering his 70th fifty-plus score in successful ODI chases, the most by any batter in history.Earlier in the day, India’s bowlers had done their job. Young pacer Harshit Rana grabbed a career-best 4 for 39, while Washington Sundar picked up two crucial wickets as Australia were bundled out for 236 in 46.4 overs.Australia, already 2-0 up in the series after wins in Perth and Adelaide, looked set for another strong total before India’s bowlers triggered a stunning collapse, claiming the last seven wickets for just 53 runs.But the day, as it so often happens in India-Australia clashes, belonged to Virat Kohli. His smile after reaching his first run of the series, the loud cheers from Sydney, and the records that tumbled along the way — all added up to another reminder of why he remains one of the greatest ever to grace ODI cricket.