Virat Kohli Surpasses Ricky Ponting for Most ODI Runs Against New Zealand

Virat Kohli has etched his name into the record books once again, officially becoming the highest run-scorer against New Zealand in the history of One Day International cricket. The star batter surpassed the long-standing record held by Australian legend Ricky Ponting during the second ODI in Wellington on Saturday.

Entering the match tied with Ponting on 1,971 runs, Kohli required only a single run to claim the top spot outright. He achieved the milestone early in his innings by striking a boundary. Although his stay at the crease was brief on this occasion—ending with a score of seven—the achievement marks another significant chapter in his prolific career. Kohli now sits at the summit of the list with 1,975 runs against the Black Caps, moving ahead of Ponting and other legends including Sachin Tendulkar, Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, and Jacques Kallis.

Gurnoor Brar spearheaded the attack, delivering a standout performance that included a four-wicket haul. Brar’s aggressive use of short-pitched bowling proved particularly effective, notably accounting for Tom Latham and Glenn Phillips in a double-wicket maiden. Supporting him were Auqib Nabi and Anshul Kamboj, who claimed two wickets each, while Axar Patel also contributed with two scalps of his own. The pressure exerted by the Indian bowlers was relentless, as they forced 176 dot balls throughout the innings.

For New Zealand, Daryl Mitchell provided some resistance with a top score of 55, while captain Mitchell Santner added 31. However, the hosts were unable to build substantial partnerships against the pace and bounce generated by the Indian attack. This latest milestone for Kohli follows his valuable 74-run contribution in the series opener, where he helped India successfully chase a revised target of 143 under the DLS method.