Virat Kohli created history during the first ODI between India and New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on November 4, 2026. The former Indian captain became the first batter to score 13,000 runs while batting at number 3 in ODI cricket.
Kohli reached the milestone during India’s chase of 186 runs. He needed just 12 runs to achieve the landmark at the start of his innings. The 37-year-old completed it in just 13 deliveries, reaching the mark in the 6.2 overs of India’s innings.
Kohli achieved this feat in his 251st innings at number 3. He has batted at this position 254 times between 2009 and 2026. His record includes 48 centuries and 69 half-centuries. He has maintained an impressive average of 61.6, with his highest score being 183.
Ricky Ponting Follows Kohli on the All-Time List
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting is second on the list of highest run-scorers at number 3 in ODIs. He scored 12,662 runs in 330 innings. Kohli and Ponting remain the only two batters to cross 10,000 runs at this position.
Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara occupies third place with 9,747 runs. Jacques Kallis follows with 7,774 runs, while New Zealand’s Kane Williamson has scored 6,504 runs.
Pakistan’s Babar Azam has 6,054 runs, followed by England’s Joe Root with 5,525 runs. Other notable names include Dean Jones (5,100), Brian Lara (4,447), Steve Smith (4,369) and Marvan Atapattu (4,142). India’s Rahul Dravid also scored 4,000 runs at number 3.
Kohli also entered the first ODI with several records in sight against New Zealand. He had scored 1,909 ODI runs against the Black Caps and needed 63 more to surpass Ponting’s record of 1,971 runs.
Additionally, Kohli needed 47 runs to complete 1,000 international runs against New Zealand. Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Mohammad Azharuddin are the only other Indian batters to achieve this milestone.
