During India’s Champions Trophy final against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday, star batsman Virat Kohli marked a significant achievement. Playing in his third consecutive Champions Trophy final, Kohli became only the second Indian cricketer to participate in 550 international matches. The legendary Sachin Tendulkar holds the record with 664 matches.
Sachin Tendulkar, who retired in 2013, played 200 Test matches, 463 ODIs, and 1 T20I. Virat Kohli’s international career includes 123 Tests, 302 ODIs, and 125 T20Is.
Most International Matches for India
- Sachin Tendulkar: 664
- Virat Kohli: 550*
- MS Dhoni: 538
- Rahul Dravid: 509
- Rohit Sharma: 499*
Kohli has been in excellent form throughout the Champions Trophy. Leading up to the final, he had scored 217 runs in four matches, including a century against Pakistan in the group stage. He is also a strong contender for the tournament’s top run-scorer.
Virat Kohli’s ODI career is truly remarkable, with 14,180 runs at an average of 58.11 and a record-breaking 51 centuries, solidifying his position as a dominant force in the format.
In a recent episode of The ICC Review, Ravi Shastri, who previously coached Kohli, praised Kohli’s mastery of the 50-over format.
Shastri highlighted Kohli’s discipline and match awareness as key factors. He noted that while Kohli might have tried to push his boundaries in recent years, he has now returned to his core strengths: rotating the strike with singles, hitting along the ground, and choosing the right moments for big shots. Shastri compared Kohli to other great ODI players who excel in run chases, emphasizing the importance of accumulating singles to minimize pressure, especially when supported by aggressive hitters at the other end.
Shastri also lauded Kohli’s infectious energy and commitment on the field, comparing him to global sports icons like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal, noting how such energy captivates audiences and inspires others.
