Virat Kohli becomes the fastest to 15,000 ODI runs

Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 139 as India beat West Indies by eight wickets, with 50 balls to spare, in the first one-day international on Sunday, 27 September 2026. Hindustan Times said he passed 15,000 runs in one-day internationals in that innings, and described the hundred as his 86th in international cricket. The chase was at Thiruvananthapuram. The earlier report on this page named the ground as the Greenfield Stadium.

West Indies batted first and made 295 for 7 in 50 overs, leaving India a target of 296. Justin Greaves scored 101, John Campbell 62 and Amir Jangoo 58. Hindustan Times said the innings moved from 135 for 0 to 198 for 5, and credited Kuldeep Yadav for that passage. Kuldeep took 4 for 40 from 10 overs. Prasidh Krishna took 2 for 60 and Nitish Kumar Reddy 1 for 45.

Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma put on 74 for the first wicket. Alzarri Joseph dismissed Rohit for 32. India Today reported that India were 74 for 1 after 12 overs, that Keemo Paul had dropped Gill, and that Rohit had survived a chance before he was out. Gill went on to score a century. The earlier version of this report, citing ESPNcricinfo commentary, described that hundred as his 10th in ODIs and called him the fastest Indian to the mark.

India Today said Kohli walked in with 14,941 ODI runs and needed 59 to reach 15,000. Rohit and Gill had already taken India through the opening phase. The report said Kohli did not take a long time to settle: he took on Joseph early, attacked loose balls, and used the pace on offer. With Gill set, Kohli took the more attacking role and kept the chase moving. He brought up his fifty in 40 balls. With nine runs still wanted for the landmark, back-to-back boundaries took him to 59 and completed 15,000, off 46 balls. He raised both hands towards Sachin Tendulkar and then turned to the crowd, which gave him a standing ovation. India Today said Tendulkar has long been an idol for Kohli, who has spoken about watching him while growing up.

Kohli is the second man to reach 15,000 ODI runs. India Today said Tendulkar got there in his 377th innings, in 2007, and that Kohli did it in his 303rd, 74 innings fewer. Tendulkar's career total is 18,426, and he still leads the all-time list. Kohli had already been the fastest to 13,000 ODI runs, reaching that mark in 267 innings in 2023. Tendulkar had taken 321 innings.

Before this knock, India Today said, West Indies had been one of Kohli's most productive ODI opponents: 2,261 runs in 43 matches and 41 innings, with nine centuries and 11 fifties. He finished Sunday's chase unbeaten on 139. Hindustan Times said India won by eight wickets with 50 balls remaining.