5 Sachin Tendulkar records broken by Virat Kohli

Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli (Source: X)

The modern-day batting great, Virat Kohli, has been in sensational form even at the age of 37. With his exceptional batting prowess, Virat Kohli is either number two or has broken most of the major milestones in international cricket, surpassing the former India legend, Sachin Tendulkar. 

In his more than 17-year cricketing career, Kohli has achieved numerous milestones across formats of international cricket. Given that, here’s a look at the five records of Sachin Tendulkar broken by Virat Kohli. 

It includes various records that Sachin achieved during his 24-year-long international career. Besides that, some of Sachin’s records in international cricket remained unbroken for a long time till Kohli broke them. 

5 Sachin Tendulkar records broken by Virat Kohli

Most Centuries in ODIs

Sachin Tendulkar ended his career as the batter with the most centuries (49) in ODIs after scoring 114 runs against Bangladesh in the penultimate match of his ODI career before playing the last game against Pakistan during the Asia Cup 2012. It was also the 100th international ton for Sachin Tendulkar. 

Sachin’s record for the most ODI centuries stood unbroken for 11 years, until Virat Kohli surpassed it in the ODI World Cup 2023. Kohli scores his ODI career’s 50th century to become the batter with the most centuries in the ODIs. Notably, Virat Kohli has added two more ODI centuries to his credit since his 50th ton in the format.

Most Centuries in a single format

It was during the third Test of the three-match series between South Africa and India in 2010-11 when Sachin Tendulkar scored his 51st Test century. With this ton, he also happened to be the batter with the most centuries in a single format. 

Sachin’s record, set on January 2, 2011, remained unbroken for more than 14 years, until Kohli outshone it with his 52nd ODI century. Virat Kohli scored his 52nd ODI century in the first ODI of the three-match series against South Africa in November-December 2025. Currently, Kohli has the most centuries in a single format to his name, with 53 ODI tons. 

Most runs in successful run chases in ODIs

During his ODI career from 1990 to 2012, Sachin Tendulkar also achieved a rare milestone, becoming the highest run scorer in the successful run-chases in ODIs. Sachin had scored 5490 runs in 124 innings of 127 matches he played when India were chasing the target. In these games, Sachin also scored 14 centuries and 31 half-centuries. 

But, Virat Kohli, with his batting excellence, especially while chasing the targets in the pressure situations, has left Sachin behind in this milestone as well. Kohli now has 6230 runs to his credit in the successful run chases for India, in 104 innings of the 110 games. He has smashed 24 centuries and 29 half-centuries across these successful chases. 

Most runs in a single World Cup edition

After displaying a batting masterclass in the ODI World Cup 2003, Sachin Tendulkar became the batter to score the most runs in a single World Cup edition. He scored 673 runs in 11 innings of the 11 games, with a fantastic average of 61.18, hitting a century and six half-centuries. 

This record remained with Sachin Tendulkar’s name for the following four editions across two decades before it was broken in the fifth one in the ODI World Cup 2023. The modern master Virat Kohli once again achieved another international milestone.

Virat Kohli amassed 765 runs in 11 innings, with an outstanding average of 95.62, hitting three centuries and six half-centuries, including three unbeaten appearances.

Fastest to score 25,000 international runs

In the Ahmedabad Test against Sri Lanka in 2009, Sachin Tendulkar became the only batsman in cricket history to score 25,000 international runs across all formats. He was later joined by Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting, and Kumar Sangakkara, but Sachin was still the fastest of these three to reach this milestone in 577 innings. 

Sachin’s record of ‘fastest to score 25,000 international runs’ stood tall for more than 13 years till Virat Kohli came into the picture once again. Kohli broke Sachin’s record by scoring 25,000 international runs in just 549 innings to reach the 25,000-run mark in international cricket in the fewest innings.