Star batsman Virat Kohli carved his name deeper into cricket history during the opening One Day International against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland. He officially became the first player in the sport to cross the coveted 13,000-run mark while batting at the number 3 position in ODI matches. Earlier, New Zealand posted a total of 185 runs before India began a confident chase in the series opener. Afterwards, the veteran right-hander reached the milestone cleanly during the seventh over to cement his legacy.
- Virat Kohli became the first player to score 13,000 ODI runs at the number 3 batting position.
- He reached this historic milestone off the 13th ball faced during the first ODI fixture against New Zealand.
- The achievement came in just 251 innings while maintaining an exceptional average above 60.
- Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting stands second on the all-time list with 12,662 runs.
Milestone Innings in Auckland
Entering the opening match of the five-match series, the master batsman required only 12 runs to etch his name in the record books. Eventually, he crossed the threshold on the 13th delivery of his innings as India chased down a modest target. Also, this feat further highlights his unmatched consistency in fifty-over international cricket.
Meanwhile, his phenomenal average of over 60 at the crucial position places him far ahead of his peers. Because of this masterclass, India strengthened their grip on the ongoing match.
All-Time Standings at Number 3
Only two batsmen in the history of international cricket have managed to surpass 10,000 ODI runs at the pivotal number 3 spot. Behind Kohli and Ponting, Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara occupies the third position with 9,747 runs. Later in the rankings, Jacques Kallis and Kane Williamson follow with stellar career numbers of their own.
Ultimately, this latest record underlines the sheer dominance and longevity of India’s premier run-scorer. As the series continues, fans will expect more masterclasses from the prolific batsman.
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