Virat Kohli once again underlined his case as the best ODI batter of all time with a match-winning knock against Australia in the Champions Trophy. His innings of 84 runs not only helped India secure a place in the final but also allowed Kohli to etch his name into the history books once again.
With this knock, Virat Kohli officially surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record for the most fifty-plus scores in global ICC ODI events. Chasing 265 runs to secure a spot in the final, Kohli walked in at his usual No. 3 position after the early departure of Shubman Gill in the fifth over. With calm composure, the Indian batting star constructed yet another vital innings, overcoming early wickets and a challenging run chase.
Kohli’s half-century arrived off just 52 balls, marking his 74th ODI fifty. He appeared on course for yet another century before an uncharacteristic shot saw him dismissed for 84 runs. Despite his departure, India managed to complete the chase, winning by four wickets.
Virat Kohli’s 24th fifty in global ICC events now stands as a record, surpassing the legendary Tendulkar, who previously held the mark with 23 such scores in World Cups and Champions Trophy tournaments. Kohli achieved this milestone in just 53 innings, while Tendulkar needed 58 innings to accumulate his 23 fifties.
In addition to his record fifty, Virat Kohli also made significant progress in other areas. Earlier in the tournament, he became the quickest batter to reach 14,000 runs in ODIs, and in the semi-final match, he also took his 336th international outfield catch, setting a new India record.
Virat Kohli now also stands as the second batter in history to amass over 8,000 runs in successful ODI chases, a testament to his reliability and consistency in high-pressure situations.
| Player | Innings | Fifty-Plus Scores |
|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 53 | 24 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 58 | 23 |
| Rohit Sharma | 42 | 18 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | 56 | 17 |
| Ricky Ponting | 60 | 16 |
| Shakib Al Hasan | 43 | 15 |
| Rahul Dravid | 36 | 14 |
| Herschelle Gibbs | 33 | 14 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 55 | 14 |
| Jacques Kallis | 49 | 14 |
| Joe Root | 37 | 14 |
With his remarkable consistency in global ICC events, Virat Kohli continues to set new standards in world cricket, outpacing some of the greatest names in the game. His pursuit of further records is far from over, and as India prepares for the Champions Trophy final, all eyes will be on Kohli to deliver once again in the tournament’s decisive match.