Virat Kohli just 54 runs shy of surpassing legendary ODI record ahead of three-match series against Australia

India's batting juggernaut Virat Kohli is poised to make his return to international cricket in the upcoming ODI series against Australia in November. Virat Kohli will be after a big ODI milestone when he takes the field in the three-match ODI series against Australia. The former India captain, who now exclusively plays in the ODI format after retiring from T20Is following the 2024 World Cup and from Test cricket in May 2025, is focused on the 2027 ODI World Cup. Having played a crucial role in India's 2025 Champions Trophy victory, Kohli's return, along with Rohit Sharma's, is highly anticipated.

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Virat Kohli on verge of breaking Kumar Sangakkara's legendary ODI record

As he prepares for the series, Kohli is on the verge of another towering ODI milestone. With 14,181 runs from 302 ODIs, he is just 54 runs shy of surpassing Kumar Sangakkara's total of 14,234 runs to become the second-highest run-scorer in the format's history. While Sachin Tendulkar's record of 18,426 runs from 463 matches appears to be an improbable target, Kohli is all but certain to finish his career as the second-highest run-scorer. He has a strong chance of achieving this milestone in the very first ODI against Australia.

Batters with most ODI runs:

S. No.	Player	Matches	Runs
1	Sachin Tendulkar	463	18,426
2	Kumar Sangakkara	404	14,234
3	Virat Kohli	302	14,181
4	Ricky Ponting	375	13,704
5	Sanath Jayasuriya	445	13,430
6	Mahela Jayawardene	448	12,650
7	Inzamam Ul Haq	378	11,739
8	Jacques Kallis	328	11,579
9	Sourav Ganguly	311	11,363
10	Rohit Sharma	273	11,168

India's upcoming tour of Australia will consist of three ODIs and five T20Is. The ODI series begins on October 19 at Perth Stadium, followed by the second match in Adelaide on October 23. The final ODI will be played in Sydney on October 25, which will also be the last game of the series for both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

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The five-match T20I series will kick off in Canberra on October 29. The subsequent matches will be held in Melbourne on October 31, Hobart on November 2, Gold Coast on November 6, and Brisbane on November 8. Following the conclusion of the Australia tour, Kohli and Sharma will return to India for a three-match ODI series against South Africa. The matches are scheduled for November 30 in Ranchi, December 3 in Raipur, and December 6 in Vizag.