Kohli Shatters Tendulkar’s Landmark as India Cruise Past West Indies in ODI Opener

Virat Kohli etched his name deeper into cricket folklore by becoming the fastest batter to cross the 15,000-run barrier in One-Day Internationals, eclipsing Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing milestone. Entering the series opener in Thiruvananthapuram needing 59 runs to reach the mark, Kohli reached the milestone in just 303 innings—well clear of Tendulkar’s 377.

Twin centuries from Kohli and captain Shubman Gill propelled India to a commanding eight-wicket victory over the West Indies, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Chasing a target of 296, the hosts reached 300 for two in 41.4 overs on the back of an emphatic 150-run second-wicket partnership.

Earlier in the match, Justin Greaves compiled a maiden ODI century (101) to anchor the visitors’ innings. However, his effort was countered by an incisive four-wicket spell from Kuldeep Yadav, which kept the West Indies total within manageable reach.

India’s chase began briskly with a 75-run stand between Rohit Sharma and Gill. Capitalizing on a dropped chance on 11, Gill accelerated to complete his 10th ODI hundred, scoring 110 off 107 deliveries with a mix of elegant cuts and assertive drives against both pace and spin.

Kohli, meanwhile, controlled the chase with aggressive intent. He raced to a 40-ball fifty with a flurry of boundaries against Alzarri Joseph before shifting through the gears. Kohli reached his 55th ODI hundred—and 86th across international formats—in just 74 balls, bringing up the triple-digit score by hoisting Gudakesh Motie over mid-wicket for six. Gill fell late in the innings to Roston Chase, but Kohli remained unbeaten on a blistering 139, decorated with 10 boundaries and nine sixes, to comfortably close out the chase.