Stats: Virat Kohli breaks into top five list of most ODI matches for India, goes past Sourav Ganguly

Achieving milestones isn't an uncommon feat for Virat Kohli, and the Indian great added yet another feather to his already legendary career in Vadodara on Sunday. As he stepped onto the field for the first ODI against New Zealand at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, Kohli silently crossed a landmark that underlined not just his brilliance, but his longevity at the highest level.

The appearance marked Kohli’s 309th ODI for India, taking him past former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who finished his career with 308 matches in the format. In doing so, Kohli moved a step higher in the no. of most ODI appearances for India, reiterating his status as one of the most fit and consistent cricketers the country has ever produced.

Most ODI matches for India

Ganguly brought the curtain down on his ODI journey with 311 caps overall, including three outings for the Asia XI. Across those appearances, the former India captain compiled 11,363 runs at an average of 41.02, striking 22 centuries and 72 fifties — a body of work that firmly secures his place among the all-time greats of one-day cricket.

Kohli edging past Ganguly on the ODI appearances list, therefore, is far more than a numbers game. It stands as a marker of extraordinary longevity and a career forged on relentless consistency, sustained across different eras and against ever-evolving, high-quality bowling attacks.

Sitting comfortably at the summit is Sachin Tendulkar, whose staggering tally of 463 ODI appearances remains a world record and, for now, seems firmly unbreachable. The 37-year-old, who has 27975 runs thus far, is closing in on another significant landmark. He needs only 42 more runs to move past Kumar Sangakkara (28,016 international runs) and become the second-highest run-getter of all time in internationals.

Kohli comes into the New Zealand series riding a rich vein of form. In his last eight List-A outings, he has smashed three centuries and as many half-centuries, underlining his continued authority in the format. His mastery was on full display during the series against South Africa, where knocks of 135, 102, and an unbeaten 65 highlighted his understanding of the ODI format and his ability to command tempo and conditions while shaping an innings.