A day before his 38th birthday, Kohli claimed another piece of Sachin Tendulkar’s legacy with an innings that showed how much he still has to offer.

His 74 from 51 balls at Eden Park took him to 8,741 runs batting second in ODIs, surpassing Tendulkar’s 8,720. The record covers all chases, including defeats, and places Kohli outright first in one of the game’s most revealing batting measures.

The comparison becomes more striking when innings are considered. Kohli reached his tally in 169 innings, 63 fewer than Tendulkar, with 30 centuries and 46 half-centuries. His average of 66.21 reflects the extraordinary consistency with which he has answered the scoreboard.

There have been grander targets and greater occasions, but Auckland offered another reminder of the qualities behind those figures.

India lost Rohit Sharma for a duck in the opening over. The pitch offered pace and bounce, while repeated rain interruptions broke up the chase. Kohli responded by taking the attack to New Zealand’s fast bowlers.

He pulled and hooked with authority, striking 13 fours and a six. Fifty came from 35 deliveries, his 80th half-century in the format, and his partnership of 113 with Shubman Gill put India firmly on course.

New Zealand kept testing him with the short ball. Kohli kept finding the boundary.

Gill contributed 37, while Kohli’s aggression allowed India to absorb a late cluster of wickets and reach their revised target of 143 with 56 balls remaining.

The innings was a fitting way to claim a record so closely associated with his reputation. Kohli has spent much of his career making the required rate feel like the opposition’s problem.

His numbers in successful chases are even more imposing: 6,477 runs at an average of 89.95, including 25 centuries. Those figures belong to matches India won, a distinction that gives his prolific scoring its competitive weight.

Arshdeep Singh had earlier taken 4-70 and Gurnoor Brar 3-44 to dismiss New Zealand for 185, laying the platform for India’s victory and a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

The second ODI takes place in Wellington on Saturday.

Eighteen years into his ODI career, Kohli is still giving the next generation something to chase.

THE GREATEST EVER IN ODIs – KING KOHLI 👑🇮🇳 https://t.co/5y7HPVObr4

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 4, 2026