Virat Kohli has once again etched his name into the history books during the recently concluded India vs. New Zealand bilateral series, putting together a body of work that stood out across the contest. Here’s a breakdown of the major records Kohli broke throughout the series.
Virat Kohli’s New Records
Since the post-lockdown phase, Kohli has constantly found himself under scrutiny, including questions around his form, selection, and longevity, which followed him everywhere.
But ever since his 71st international century against Afghanistan (122* off 61 balls) during the 2022 Asia Cup, that doubt was gone. From my perspective, that knock not just ended a drought, it was beggining of something extraordinary.
On 18th January against New Zealand, Kohli made history in four major statistical categories.
Most International Centuries Against New Zealand
During the last match, Kohli added an astonishing century to his already dominant record against New Zealand, taking his tally to 10 international centuries against the Kiwis. That pushed him past Ricky Ponting and Virender Sehwag, who were previously tied with six each.
ODI Centuries at 35 Different Venues Worldwide
During the series, Kohli became the first batter in cricket history to score ODI centuries at 35 different venues. This record shows about this 37-year-old right-handed batsman’s ability to adapt. Conditions change from ground to ground, but Kohli’s ability to read pitches early and adjust his tempo has made him ODI’s Number 1 Batsman once again.
Fastest to 28,000 International Runs
Kohli crossed the 28,000 international runs mark during the first match against the Black Caps in Vadodara on January 11, 2026, and joined an elite group featuring Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara. In doing so, he also surpassed Sachin Tendulkar.
Highest Run-Scorer at No. 3 in ODI History
Over the course of the series, Kohli went past Ricky Ponting to become the highest run-scorer batting at No. 3 in ODI cricket. Let’s not forget that it’s a position that demands both stability and aggression. For me, Batting at No. 3 is responsibility-heavy, and Kohli has owned that role.
With yet another series filled with milestones and record-breaking performances, one question is now echoing among fans and critics alike:
Can Virat Kohli reach the century of international centuries and break Sachin Tendulkar’s iconic feat?
If you want my honest, experience-driven take on that and why timing may matter more than the number itself, you can check out our guide.
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