Internet Desk: India skipper Virat Kohli has smashed AB de Villiers’ record by becoming the quickest batsman to score 8000 runs in one-day international cricket.
In ICC Champions Trophy semi-final in Birmingham, Kohli crossed the 8000-run mark in his 175th innings, during the span of his undefeated 96 off 78 deliveries against Bangladesh.
Earlier this year, South Africa opener Hashim Amla had broken Kohli’s record of being the quickest to 7000 runs in ODIs in his 150th innings. Kohli had taken 166 innings for the same. 34-year old Amla is also the fastest to 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000 and 6000 runs. At present, Amla is at 7186 runs in 153 ODI innings.
In 2002, Ganguly had crushed Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 210 innings by reaching the 8000 landmark in his 200th innings. In August 2015, South African captain de Villiers needed 182 innings to reach 8000 runs, beating Sourav Ganguly’s prior record of 200 innings.
With Rohit Sharma’s 123 not out and Kohli’s unbeaten 96, India advanced to the finals of the Champions Trophy against Pakistan at Kennington Oval. This was Kohli’s 42nd ODI half-century.