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All eyes will be on Virat Kohli as he gears up for his third consecutive Champions Trophy final when India faces New Zealand in a high-stakes clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, March 9. The Indian batting maestro has been in scintillating form throughout the tournament and will once again be the key player for his side in the all-important final.
Interestingly, India and New Zealand have squared off in two ICC tournament finals since the start of the century, with the Black Caps emerging victorious on both occasions—the 2000 Champions Trophy final and the 2021 World Test Championship final. However, India holds an edge in recent ODI encounters, having won their last two 50-over meetings against the Kiwis.
Beyond team glory, Kohli is on the verge of rewriting history as he stands just a few runs away from surpassing some legendary milestones.
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Kohli Poised to Surpass Sangakkara in ODI Runs
Kohli has already notched up a century and a match-winning fifty in the Champions Trophy 2025, further solidifying his reputation as one of the greatest ODI players of all time. If he scores just 54 more runs in the final, he will surpass Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-getter in ODI history.
🏏 Current ODI Top Run-Getters:
✔ Sachin Tendulkar – 18,400 runs (463 matches)
✔ Kumar Sangakkara – 14,234 runs (404 matches)
✔ Virat Kohli – 14,180 runs (301 matches)
A solid knock in the final could see Kohli inching closer to Tendulkar’s all-time record, further cementing his place among the game’s legends.
Set to Overtake ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle in Champions Trophy Runs
Kohli is also closing in on another prestigious record held by the ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle. The West Indies great currently holds the record for the most runs in Champions Trophy history with 791 runs in 17 matches. Kohli, who has 746 runs in 17 matches, needs just 47 runs in the final to overtake Gayle and become the all-time leading run-scorer in the tournament’s history.
🏏 Most Runs in Champions Trophy History:
✔ Chris Gayle – 791 runs (17 matches)
✔ Virat Kohli – 746 runs (17 matches)
✔ Kumar Sangakkara – 683 runs (22 matches)
With history on the line and India aiming for its third Champions Trophy title, Kohli will look to step up once again in the final against New Zealand. If he delivers, not only will India claim the prestigious trophy, but Kohli will also etch his name in the record books as one of the most dominant performers in Champions Trophy history.
