Cricket

Virat Kohli surpasses Ricky Ponting, secures spot among the top five all-time greats.

  • Authored By: Sports Now
  • Updated Jul 16, 2026, 20:51 IST

During the second ODI against England, Virat Kohli surpassed Ricky Ponting, marking another significant achievement in his illustrious career.

Virat Kohli surpasses Ricky Ponting, secures spot among the top five all-time greats.

During the second One Day International (ODI) against England, Virat Kohli achieved a significant career milestone by surpassing Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting in the all-time list of international appearances. With this match, Kohli reached his 561st international game, moving ahead of Ponting's record of 560 matches. This achievement places Kohli as the fifth-most capped player in the history of cricket, with only four players ahead of him, including the record-holder Sachin Tendulkar.

Kohli's Performance and Contributions

Kohli's milestone was celebrated with a solid performance, as he scored 65 runs off 66 balls before being dismissed by England's Jofra Archer for the second consecutive ODI in the series. Archer, who was brought back into the bowling attack, managed to break India's growing partnership with a well-placed delivery that induced a mistimed pull from Kohli. The ball was caught by Adil Rashid, who ran in from third man to secure the catch.

Before his dismissal, Kohli played a crucial role in stabilizing the Indian innings. He formed a partnership of 60 runs with Rohit Sharma, who contributed 26 runs, and later combined with Shreyas Iyer for a 67-run stand, putting India in a strong position. This innings also marked Kohli's 14th score of 50 or more against England, tying him with West Indies great Viv Richards for the second-most such scores against this opponent. Only Kumar Sangakkara, with 15 fifty-plus scores against England, has more than Kohli in this regard.

A Testament to Longevity

This latest achievement further emphasizes Kohli's remarkable consistency and longevity in international cricket. Since his debut in 2008, the 37-year-old has accumulated over 28,000 runs across all formats, establishing himself as one of the few cricketers to have played in more than 560 international matches. Kohli's career continues to inspire many, as he remains a pivotal figure in the Indian cricket team.

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