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In a historic return to the domestic circuit, Virat Kohli etched his name deeper into the record books on Wednesday, December 24 during Vijay Hazare 2025-26 game between Delhi and Andhra Pradesh.
Virat Kohli matches Sachin Tendulkar’s remarkable milestone legendary feat in his Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 return
Representing Delhi against Andhra Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the 37-year-old batting icon became only the second Indian in history to cross the monumental 16,000-run mark in List A cricket. Playing in his first List A game since 2013 and his first fixture in this tournament in 15 years, Kohli achieved the feat during a 299-run chase at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. This milestone further solidifies his status as a giant of the 50-over format, following closely in the footsteps of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
As Kohli steps back into the Delhi dressing room under the captaincy of Rishabh Pant, his presence has sparked immense domestic interest. While the match was played behind closed doors, the Kohli effect was felt across social media as fans tracked every run of his historic comeback.
- The Milestone Moment: Kohli needed just one run to reach the 16,000 mark.5 He secured it in the very first over of Delhi’s chase after the fall of opener Arpit Rana.
- The Partnership: For this domestic stint, Kohli is batting alongside young talents like Priyansh Arya, showing a mix of seasoned mastery and fresh aggression.
- A Familiar Foe: Before this game, Kohli acknowledged the challenge posed by Andhra’s bowlers, specifically noting the competitive spirit of the domestic grind.
- The “Second to One” Club: He joins Sachin Tendulkar as the only other Indian to breach this barrier, with Tendulkar sitting at the top of the mountain with 21,999 runs.
Kohli’s statistical dominance and the List A elite
Virat Kohli’s entry into the 16,000-run club makes him the 9th player overall in the history of the game to achieve this feat. His career average remains the highest among the top ten run-getters, a testament to his unparalleled consistency over nearly two decades.
| Rank | Player | Runs Scored | Matches Played |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Graham Gooch | 22,211 | 613 |
| 2 | Graeme Hick | 22,059 | 651 |
| 3 | Sachin Tendulkar | 21,999 | 551 |
Kohli’s 2025 season has been nothing short of spectacular. Prior to the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he was named Player of the Series in India’s 2-1 ODI win over South Africa, where he smashed two centuries and a half-century in just three innings. With 53 ODI hundreds already to his name, he currently leads the world in international 50-over centuries and is using this domestic window to prepare for the upcoming home series against New Zealand starting January 11, 2026.
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