Virat Kohli bounces back with classy fifty against Australia, becomes 2nd highest run-getter in ODI history

After back-to-back ducks in the first two ODIs, Virat Kohli returned to form with a classy half-century in the third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney on Saturday. Kohli surpassed Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-getter in ODI history with his brilliant knock.

Potentially playing the final match of his international career in Australia, Kohli looked relieved after getting off the mark with a single against Josh Hazlewood and celebrated with a fist pump before getting down to business. He joined hands with Rohit Sharma to steady the ship for India after skipper Shubman Gill's dismissal and went on to complete his half-century off 56 balls.

Kohli surpassed Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-getter of all time in ODIs after breaching the 54-run mark in the with a single off Cooper Connolly in the 32nd over of India's 237-run chase at the SCG. Sangakkara finished with 14234 runs in 380 innings in his ODI career and held the second spot behind the legendary Sachin Tendulkar (18426) in the elite list of highest run-getters of all time in ODIs.

Kohli went past him in just 293 innings to take the 2nd spot in the elite list. The run machine is now only behind Tendulkar, who continues to remain on top with 18426 runs from 452 innings. Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting is in the 4th spot with 13704 runs in 365 innings in ODIs.

18426 Sachin Tendulkar (452 innings)

14235 Virat Kohli (293 innings) *

14234 Kumar Sangakkara (380 innings)

13704 Ricky Ponting (365 innings)

13430 Sanath Jayasuriya (433 innings)

Kohli needed only 54 runs to go past Sangakkara ahead of the start of the series. However, twin failures in the first two ODIs derailed the Team India star's bid to close the gap on the legendary Tendulkar in the elite list. However, he responded to his critics in style with a brisk half-century in the 3rd ODI to climb to the second spot.

It was Kohli's 75th ODI fifty and potentially his last in Australia as India are currently not scheduled to play an ODI series Down Under till the 2027 ODI World Cup. Kohli received a roaring ovation from the crowd after completing his half-century as he shared a 100-plus  stand with centurion Rohit for the 2nd wicket to anchor India's chase.

Kohli also broke the legendary Tendulkar's record for the most half-centuries in run chases in ODI history. The Team India star scored his 70th half-century in a run chase in ODIs, against Australia in Sydney on Saturday to go past the Master Blaster, who scored 69 half-centuries in run chases for India in the fifty-over format.