DUBAI: Indian cricketing icon Virat Kohli has added another feather to his illustrious cap, becoming only the third batter in One-Day International (ODI) history to surpass 14,000 runs.
Kohli achieved the milestone during India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Group A clash against Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
Elite ODI Club
The 36-year-old joins an exclusive group featuring Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara. Making his ODI debut in 2008 against Sri Lanka, Kohli reached the milestone in his 298th appearance, boasting an impressive tally of 50 centuries and 73 half-centuries.
Champions Trophy: Pakistan vs India 2025
Kohli’s latest milestone was overshadowed by his match-winning performance, as he powered India to a commanding six-wicket victory over Pakistan. His unbeaten 100 off 112 balls guided India in their successful chase of 242, with 7.3 overs to spare.
Electing to bat first, Pakistan struggled to build momentum. Openers Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq fell cheaply inside the powerplay, leaving the middle order to repair the damage. Captain Mohammad Rizwan (46) and Saud Shakeel (62) stitched together a crucial 104-run partnership, but their dismissals triggered a collapse. Khushdil Shah’s late 38 pushed Pakistan to 241 before they were bowled out in 49.4 overs.
India’s response was clinical from the outset. Shubman Gill (46) provided a brisk start, while Kohli and Shreyas Iyer (56) stitched a vital 114-run stand to keep India in control. With Pakistan’s bowling attack struggling to make inroads, Kohli completed his century in style, dispatching a boundary to seal the win.
Pakistan’s bowling lacked penetration, with leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed being the only bowler to claim a wicket. The lack of early breakthroughs allowed India to dominate, comfortably reaching 244/4 in 42.3 overs.
Another ODI record for Virat Kohli
Kohli also set a new benchmark by becoming India’s most successful fielder in ODIs, taking the most catches by an Indian outfielder. His consistency and athleticism in the field have added another dimension to his already decorated career.
Virat Kohli has set a new benchmark in Indian cricket by surpassing Mohammad Azharuddin's record for the most catches by an Indian fielder in One Day Internationals (ODIs).
During the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Kohli achieved his 157th catch, overtaking Azharuddin's tally of 156.
In the tournament opener against Bangladesh, Kohli equaled Azharuddin's record by taking two catches. He then surpassed the milestone in India's second match against Pakistan, where he caught Naseem Shah off Kuldeep Yadav's bowling.
Later, he added another catch, dismissing Khushdil Shah off Harshit Rana's delivery, bringing his total to 158 catches in 299 ODIs.
Kohli's exceptional fielding has been a significant asset to the Indian team. His catch-per-innings ratio stands at 0.533, meaning he averages more than a catch every alternate innings.
This impressive statistic places him third on the all-time list, behind Mahela Jayawardene (218 catches) and Ricky Ponting (160 catches).
India’s path to semi-finals
With this victory, India have virtually secured a spot in the semi-finals, remaining unbeaten in the tournament. Their record against Pakistan in ICC events remains unblemished since the 2017 Champions Trophy final, extending their winning streak to 6-0.
The tournament, which runs from February 19 to March 9, will see the top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals. While Lahore was initially set to host the final, security concerns mean that if India qualify, the venue will shift to Dubai.