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Indian cricketing maestro Virat Kohli, who has always regarded Sachin Tendulkar as his idol, is on the brink of surpassing two monumental records set by the legendary cricketer. As India gears up to face New Zealand in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 encounter, Kohli has a golden opportunity to etch his name in the history books by overtaking Tendulkar in two significant statistical milestones.
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Kohli Closing In On Most Runs Against New Zealand In International Cricket
Virat Kohli has been a dominant force against the BlackCaps, consistently delivering match-winning performances across formats. Tendulkar currently holds the record for most international runs against New Zealand with 3,345 runs. Kohli, who has amassed 2,915 runs in 55 matches against the Kiwis, is just 85 runs away from entering the elite 3,000-run club. If he manages to score those runs in the upcoming match, he will join a legendary list featuring Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and Joe Root as players who have scored 3,000+ international runs against New Zealand.
Most Runs Against New Zealand In International Cricket
| Player | Runs | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | 3,345 | 66 |
| Ricky Ponting | 3,145 | 69 |
| Jacques Kallis | 3,071 | 67 |
| Joe Root | 3,068 | 50 |
| Virat Kohli | 2,915 | 55 |
The last time Kohli faced New Zealand, he played an outstanding knock of 117 runs in the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final, guiding India to a crucial victory. Given his current form, another big innings from him looks likely in the upcoming clash.
Kohli Aiming to Become India’s Leading Run-Scorer Against New Zealand in ODIs
Kohli is also on the verge of surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most ODI runs by an Indian against New Zealand. Tendulkar leads the chart with 1,750 runs in 42 matches, while Kohli follows closely with 1,645 runs in just 31 matches. With only 105 runs needed to break this record, Kohli could rewrite history in the upcoming Champions Trophy match.
Most Runs By An Indian Against New Zealand In ODIs
| Player | Runs | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | 1,750 | 42 |
| Virat Kohli | 1,645 | 31 |
| Virender Sehwag | 1,157 | 23 |
While Kohli is closing in on the Indian record, Ricky Ponting holds the overall record for most ODI runs against New Zealand, with 1,971 runs in 51 matches.
Kohli’s Current Form & Career Stats
Virat Kohli has been in exceptional form, recently scoring a match-winning century against Pakistan, helping India secure a six-wicket victory in the Champions Trophy 2025.
- ODI Runs: 14,085
- Test Runs: 9,230
- T20I Runs: 4,188
- International Centuries: 80+
As India prepares to face New Zealand on March 2 at the Dubai International Stadium, all eyes will be on Virat Kohli to see if he can break these two major records and further solidify his legacy in international cricket.
