Virat Kohli breaks Ricky Ponting’s record, enters the all-time top-five elite list | Cricket News

India’s Virat Kohli (Photo by ANI)

Virat Kohli added another milestone to his glittering career during the second ODI against England, getting past the great Australian Ricky Ponting to become the fifth most capped player in the history of international cricket. The match marked Kohli’s 561st international appearance, taking him ahead of Ponting’s tally of 560 matches. Only four players now stand above the former Indian captain on the all-time list, with Sachin Tendulkar continuing to hold the record.

Most international appearances

Kohli celebrated the landmark with another composed innings, scoring 65 off 66 balls before falling to Jofra Archer for the second consecutive ODI in the series. Archer, brought back into the attack to break India’s thriving partnership, was hit by a back-of-a-length delivery that forced Kohli into a mistimed pull. The ball flies off the top edge and Adil Rashid completes a comfortable catch running from third man. Before his dismissal, Kohli played a key role in strengthening the Indian innings. First he added 60 runs with Rohit Sharma after the opener made 26, before stitching a 67-run stand with Shreyas Iyer to put India in a commanding position. The half-century also saw Kohli achieve another remarkable feat. It was his 14th score of 50 or more in ODIs against England, drawing level with West Indies legend Viv Richards for the second-highest scores against the opposition. Only Kumar Sangakkara, with 15 fifty-plus scores against England, tops the Indian batting star. Kohli’s latest milestone further highlights his incredible longevity across formats. Since making his international debut in 2008, the 37-year-old has amassed more than 28,000 international runs while becoming one of the few cricketers to play more than 560 matches for his country.