Virat Kohli added another milestone to his brilliant career during the second ODI against England, overtaking Australian great Ricky Ponting to become the fifth most capped player in the history of international cricket. The match marked Kohli’s 561st international appearance, putting him ahead of Ponting’s tally of 560 matches. Now only four players surpass the former Indian captain on the all-time list, with Sachin Tendulkar still holding the record.
More international appearances
| Player | Span | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | 1989-2013 | 664 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 1997-2015 | 652 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | 2000-2015 | 594 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | 1989-2011 | 586 |
| Virat Kohli | 2008-2026 | 561 |
| Ricky Ponting | 1995-2012 | 560 |
| MS Dhoni | 2004-2019 | 538 |
Kohli celebrated the milestone with another composed innings, scoring 65 off 66 balls before falling to Jofra Archer for the second consecutive ODI in the series. Archer, reintroduced into the attack to break India’s burgeoning partnership, struck with a long delivery that forced Kohli into an ill-timed pull. The ball flew over the top edge and Adil Rashid completed a comfortable running catch from third man. Before his dismissal, Kohli played a key role in stabilizing India’s innings. First he added 60 runs with Rohit Sharma after the opener made 26, before putting together a 67-run stand with Shreyas Iyer put India in a dominant position. The half-century also saw Kohli achieve another notable feat. It was his 14th score of 50 or more in ODIs against England, tying him with West Indies legend Viv Richards for the second most scores against the opposition. Only Kumar Sangakkara, with more than 15 runs against England, is ahead of the Indian batting star. Kohli’s latest milestone further underlines his remarkable longevity across all formats. Since making his international debut in 2008, the 37-year-old has amassed over 28,000 international runs and has become one of the few cricketers to have featured in more than 560 matches for his country.