In the Champions Trophy final against New Zealand in Dubai, Indian cricket star 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 for India with 664 international appearances. Tendulkar’s career, which ended in 2013, included 200 Test matches, 463 ODIs, and one T20I. Kohli’s international career currently includes 123 Tests, 302 ODIs, and 125 T20Is.
Top Indians with Most International Matches:
- Sachin Tendulkar: 664
- Virat Kohli: 550*
- MS Dhoni: 538
- Rahul Dravid: 509
- Rohit Sharma: 499*
Kohli has been outstanding in the current Champions Trophy, scoring 217 runs in four matches leading up to the final, including a century against Pakistan. He is a strong contender for the tournament’s top scorer.
Virat Kohli’s ODI career is remarkable, with 14,180 runs at an average of 58.11 and a record-breaking 51 centuries, cementing his status as a dominant force in the format.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri highlighted Kohli’s exceptional qualities on The ICC Review, emphasizing his discipline and understanding of game situations. Shastri noted Kohli’s return to his core strengths after a period of trying to exceed his natural game. He praised Kohli’s ability to rotate the strike, take singles, and strategically go for big hits, traits shared by other great ODI batsmen, especially in run chases. Shastri also pointed out how Kohli’s energy and charisma inspire both teammates and fans, comparing him to global sports icons like Ronaldo, Messi, Djokovic, and Nadal.
