Virat Kohli is poised to achieve a remarkable milestone as he gears up to play his 300th One Day International (ODI) match against New Zealand in Dubai this Sunday. This significant achievement has sparked widespread admiration within the cricket community, with former explosive opener Virender Sehwag openly expressing his reverence for Kohli’s illustrious career. Sehwag’s comments underscore the rarity of Kohli’s talent, suggesting that another player of his caliber is unlikely to emerge in ODI cricket.
Virender Sehwag’s Impressive Praise for Kohli
As Kohli approaches this milestone, Sehwag shared his thoughts during an interview with Cricbuzz, wherein he lauded Kohli’s exceptional contributions to ODI cricket. Sehwag stated emphatically that the cricket world is unlikely to see another player like Kohli in this format again.
Virender Sehwag said, “another player like Virat Kohli hardly will come into ODI cricket again”. (Cricbuzz). pic.twitter.com/MTAmrg3AxV
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 2, 2025
Kohli’s Stellar ODI Career
Virat Kohli is widely recognized as one of the greatest players in the history of One Day Internationals. As he prepares to take the field for his 300th ODI, Kohli boasts an impressive record. He has played 299 ODIs to date, featuring in 287 innings where he has remained unbeaten 45 times. Kohli has amassed a remarkable 14,085 runs, including 51 centuries—the highest in ODI history—alongside 73 half-centuries. Upon reaching the 300 match milestone, he will become the seventh player in history to achieve this feat.
Remarkable Statistics Against New Zealand
Kohli’s 300th ODI will be against New Zealand, a team he has consistently performed well against. In his previous encounters with the Kiwis, Kohli has scored 9 half-centuries and 6 centuries over 31 innings, accumulating 1,645 runs at an astounding average of over 58.
Kohli’s Incredible ODI Achievements
Kohli has achieved numerous milestones throughout his ODI career. He holds the distinction of being the fastest player to amass 8,000 through 14,000 runs in ODIs. With 124 innings of 50-plus runs out of 287 innings played, his consistency is remarkable. In 2020, he was named the ‘ODI Player of the Decade’ and has received the ‘ICC ODI Player of the Year’ award four times.
Recognition from Fellow Players
As the India-New Zealand match approaches, New Zealand player Michael Bracewell also praised Kohli, labeling the 300-match milestone as an outstanding achievement. He remarked on the significance of playing 300 matches in a single format. Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting echoed these sentiments on an ICC podcast, confidently asserting that Kohli is set to surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most runs in ODIs. Ponting acknowledged Kohli’s fitness and insatiable hunger for runs, further solidifying Kohli’s status in the cricketing world.
