Virat Kohli: Breaks Ponting’s Record, Enters Top Five. The former India captain achieved this milestone during the second ODI against England, marking his 561st international appearance. This moved him past Australian legend Ricky Ponting, who played 560 matches, placing Kohli fifth on the all-time list. Only Sachin Tendulkar, with 664 matches, along with Sri Lankan stars Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, and Sanath Jayasuriya, now stand ahead of him.
In the match, Virat Kohli celebrated his record with a composed innings of 65 runs off 66 balls. He played a key role in stabilizing India’s innings after an early wicket, first adding 60 runs with Rohit Sharma and then sharing a 67-run stand with Shreyas Iyer. Kohli’s knock ended when Jofra Archer forced a mistimed pull, with Adil Rashid taking the catch. This was his second successive ODI score of over 50 in the series against England.
The half-century also saw Virat Kohli achieve another notable feat. It was his 14th score of 50 or more in ODIs against England, drawing level with West Indies legend Viv Richards. Only Kumar Sangakkara, with 15 such scores, remains ahead. This latest milestone underlines Kohli’s remarkable longevity across formats since his debut in 2008.
Virat Kohli, now 37, has amassed over 28,000 international runs, becoming one of only a few cricketers to feature in more than 560 matches for their country. His consistent performances continue to cement his legacy as one of the game’s modern greats.