India vs Australia: Kohli eclipses Tendulkar's record, becomes fastest to 12,000 ODI runs

Virat Kohli became the fastest batsman to 12,000 One-Day International (ODI) runs on Wednesday during the second ODI between India and Australia. In the process, he bettered the previous record that was held by legendary Sachin Tendulkar.

Tendulkar got to his 12,000th run in his 300th innings, while Kohli needed only 242 innings. The Indian captain also holds the record for the fastest batsman (in terms of innings) to 10,000 and 11,000 runs in ODIs. He reached 11,000 runs in 222 innings and became the fastest to break the 10000-run mark by doing so in his 205th innings.      

Kohli, who made his 250th appearance for Team India in the 50-over format on Wednesday, finally won the toss and opted to bat in the ongoing third ODI at the Manuka Oval. At 26 for 1 in 5.5 overs, Kohli walked in to bat. He struck five fours during his knock of 78-ball 63, which was also his 60th half-century in the ODIs.

With 12,040 runs, Kohli is second in the list of most ODI runs for India, behind Tendulkar, who amassed 18,426 runs in 463 ODIs during his decorated 24-year international career.

India's iconic No. 3 batsman, Kohli made his ODI debut in 2008 during India's tour of Sri Lanka. Across the span of 12 years, Kohli has scored 43 ODI hundreds and 60 fifties. When Tendulkar retired, Kohli was expected to take over the baton in limited-overs for India, and the Delhi lad has lived up to the expectations.

With wins in the first two ODIs, Australia have already sealed the ongoing three-match series. The underway third and final ODI in Canberra is a mere dead rubber, but Kohli would want to avoid a whitewash. He had a slow start as he had managed only 21 runs in the opening ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Bouncing back, Kohli now has registered two back-to-back fifties with the first one coming in the second ODI, where he scored 89.

The ODI series is set to be followed by a three-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series. The matches are set to be played in Canberra and Sydney. The Border-Gavaskar series is scheduled to begin on Dec. 17 at the Adelaide Oval. The other Tests will be played in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane.

Kohli, who has been granted paternity leave by the BCCI, will return to Australia after the first Test to be with his wife, who is expecting a first child.