Virat Kohli, arguably one of the greatest batsmen of our times, is drawing ever nearer to overhauling one of Sachin Tendulkar’s most revered cricketing records. The “little master” had left behind a towering peak of milestones, and Kohli — with his tireless application, consistency, and appetite — is now at the door.

The Record In Sight

Sachin Tendulkar is still the undisputed lord of ODI runs, having scored 18,426 runs in his illustrious career. In the context of one-day internationals, that figure has been the ultimate yardstick of batting longevity, greatness, and consistency. Kohli, standing third on the ODI runs list at the moment, still has a long way to go — requiring over 4,000 runs to surpass the Big Man.

But Kohli has already shattered one major record in the Tendulkar chain: the fastest to 14,000 ODI runs. He did so in 287 innings, 63 fewer innings than the time Tendulkar did it. That feat highlights how merciless his run rate has been even while pursuing records.

Ricky Ponting, the Australian legend, has publicly backed Kohli’s pursuit, stating that if Kohli maintains his fitness, focus, and “hunger,” he very well could chase down Tendulkar’s tally. As of early 2025, Kohli had crossed 14,085 ODI runs and needed just ~150 more to displace Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara (who is ahead of him) — a nearer milestone before setting sights squarely on Sachin’s apex.

The Journey So Far

Kohli’s ascent in ODI cricket has been extraordinary. Already, he holds the record for most ODI centuries (51 centuries) — surpassing Tendulkar’s 49. Also notable: he has broken Tendulkar’s record for the number of times scoring 1,000+ ODI runs in a calendar year. These milestones show he is chipping away at more than just the runs total — building a legacy in his own right.

Still, the larger goal looms large: to surpass Sachin’s 18,426. Even as Kohli draws nearer, most experts warn that the sheer magnitude of this record requires him to maintain form, fitness, and opportunity for years more. With age creeping up, little room is allowed for mistake.

Adding to the complexity: Kohli has already retired from Test cricket (in 2025) after a glorious 14-year career. This leaves only the limited-overs formats for him to conduct this pursuit. Whatever he does from now on needs to all come through ODIs and T20s — although the T20 format is not likely to make a significant contribution toward the enormous runs deficit.

Challenges & Realities

1. Runs required & time factor

Kohli has a gigantic mountain to ascend: more than 4,000 runs in a format that allows fewer innings per year. Furthermore, as he gets older, the number of matches and his position in the team could change. Some matches will have few opportunities to bat deep.

2. Form & fitness

Sustaining top-order batting shape and athleticism well into the late 30s is no easy achievement. Slumps, injuries, and weariness will certainly challenge him. Any prolonged lean period has the potential to derail the chase.

3. Team balance & selection

India’s team planning always tends to favour rejuvenation. There would come a point when younger players are considered over him, or his role becomes selective between series.

4. Media, expectations & pressure

Each innings he plays will be scrutinized. The weight of comparison with Tendulkar can prove suffocating — as much as it motivates.

Kohli, however, has displayed mental toughness to cope with enormous expectations all his life. He has chased down big scores, performed in clutch situations, and taken India’s batting on his own shoulders more than once — all qualities that indicate he could just push this through.

What It Would Imply

If Kohli does beat Tendulkar’s run record, it would not only be a personal achievement, but a turning point in contemporary cricket. It would be the point where a post-Tendulkar era batsman took over the all-time benchmark in the format where Tendulkar ruled. It would be an acknowledgment that eras are different yet can be linked through sheer quality.

But records, of course, are meant to be broken. And in this pursuit, Virat Kohli is maybe the one man best placed to do it — with the hunger, consistency, drive and skill that has characterized his own career.

As days pass by and games progress, cricket enthusiasts globally will begin counting “How many more” every time Kohli steps out on the field to bat. With every half-century, every hundred, the gap gets smaller. The question is: will he get sufficient time, space, and desire to capture that world record.