Virat Kohli left an indelible mark on 2025 — a year of farewells, triumphs and relentless run-scoring. He announced his retirement from Test cricket in May, finished as one of India’s top red-ball scorers, and then dominated white-ball cricket with back-to-back ODI centuries and a fifty against South Africa to clinch the Player of the Series. He also tasted long-awaited IPL glory, lifting his first title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and continued his appetite for runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy with a century and a half-century. With the 2027 ICC World Cup in view, 2026 shapes up as a year packed with milestones Kohli could still chase.
Five milestones to watch in 2026
1. Become only the second batter with 15,000 ODI runs
Kohli sits close to a landmark few have reached. With 14,557 ODI runs to his name, he needs roughly 443 more runs to join the exclusive 15,000-club — a list currently led by Sachin Tendulkar. India’s packed ODI schedule ahead of the World Cup gives Kohli plenty of chances, and given his history in the format, this looks more a question of when than if.
2. Cross 150 international half-centuries
Consistency has been Kohli’s calling card. He has already compiled about 145 international fifties across Tests, ODIs and T20Is. Adding just five more fifties would take him to 150, a landmark reached by only a handful of all-time greats. Reaching this mark would underline his long-term reliability across formats.
3. Move to second on the all-time international run-scorers list
With roughly 27,975 runs across formats, Kohli needs only about 42 more runs to overtake Kumar Sangakkara and claim second place in the all-time list. This is an achingly near milestone and could come early in 2026 — possibly during a short ODI assignment — leaving only one legend ahead of him.
4. Be the first batter to reach 9,000 IPL runs
Kohli already owns the record for most IPL runs with roughly 8,661. Just 339 runs would see him become the first batter to touch 9,000 IPL runs. His 2025 IPL form — 657 runs in 15 matches — showed he still has the appetite and timing to reel in this landmark during the 2026 season.
5. Join the 300 IPL sixes club
Power and precision have grown hand in hand in Kohli’s T20 game. He has smashed around 291 IPL sixes so far and needs only nine more to reach 300. That would make him the third player to cross the 300 mark, highlighting how his style has evolved into a modern, multi-dimensional T20 force.
Why these milestones matter
Each target tells a different story: longevity (15,000 ODI runs), unshakeable consistency (150 fifties), historical standing (second in overall runs), IPL dominance (9,000 runs) and evolving power-hitting (300 sixes). Together they would deepen Kohli’s legacy while also giving cricket fans clear, exciting markers to follow through 2026.
He retired from Tests but remains very much in the mix in white-ball cricket. If he stays fit and hungry, 2026 could be a year in which Kohli not only racks up milestones but reshapes the statistical map of modern batting. For fans and neutral observers alike, every match next year will carry a little extra weight — and a chance to witness history.