Virat Kohli surpasses Sachin Tendulkar's home ODI run record with stunning century

Virat Kohli surpasses Sachin Tendulkar's home ODI run record with stunning century

Virat Kohli etched his name further into cricket history on September 27, 2026, becoming the first batter in One Day International cricket to surpass 7,000 runs on home soil during India's commanding eight-wicket victory over West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram.

The 37-year-old maestro delivered an unbeaten 139 off just 88 balls, striking 10 fours and a career-best nine sixes at a strike rate of 157.95. The innings marked his 55th ODI century and moved him past Sachin Tendulkar's previous home record of 6,976 runs, with Kohli now standing at 7,006 ODI runs scored in India.

Reaching 15,000 ODI runs faster than Tendulkar

Kohli also became only the second batter after Tendulkar to reach the landmark of 15,000 ODI runs. Remarkably, he achieved the milestone in his 303rd innings, a full 74 innings quicker than the former India great. The speed advantage extends beyond innings alone—Kohli required only 15,950 balls compared to Tendulkar's 17,528 balls to reach the mark, demonstrating superior scoring efficiency throughout his career.

Record-breaking century and sixes milestone

The century came off 74 balls, making it the third-fastest hundred of Kohli's ODI career, behind only his 52-ball and 61-ball efforts, both against Australia in 2013. His nine sixes established a new record for the most sixes by an Indian batter against West Indies in an ODI, surpassing Rohit Sharma's eight sixes in Guwahati in 2018.

This was Kohli's 10th ODI century against West Indies, equaling the joint-most by any batter against a single opponent in the format's history. He also has 10 centuries against Sri Lanka, sharing this unique distinction.

The innings also saw Kohli equal another Tendulkar record—his 60th century in List A cricket, matching a milestone that has stood for years and highlighting his consistency across domestic and international cricket.

Return to form on home soil

Kohli had not played an ODI since India's tour of England in July, with his previous appearance coming on July 19 at Lord's, where he scored 74. His return to familiar conditions at Thiruvananthapuram's Greenfield International Stadium proved decisive—a venue where he previously scored 166 not out against Sri Lanka in January 2023 and now remains unbeaten in ODIs.

Shubman Gill's century complements Kohli's brilliance

Shubman Gill complemented Kohli's brilliance with his own century, scoring 110 runs. The 24-year-old reached the milestone in his 67th ODI innings, becoming the fastest Indian to score 10 ODI centuries and bettering Shikhar Dhawan's previous record of 77 innings.

Together, Kohli and Gill propelled India to chase down West Indies' total of 295-7 in just 41.4 overs, with 50 balls remaining in the match.

Chasing Tendulkar's overall century record

With 86 international centuries to his name—30 in Tests, 55 in ODIs, and 1 in T20Is—Kohli now stands 14 centuries behind Tendulkar's record of 100 international hundreds, a mark achieved on March 16, 2012, against Bangladesh during the Asia Cup in Dhaka. Tendulkar's tally comprises 51 Test centuries and 49 ODI centuries.

The three-match ODI series continues with the second match scheduled for September 30 in Guwahati, followed by the third on October 3 in Chandigarh. A five-match T20 series will begin on October 6.