Thiruvananthapuram, September 27, 2026: Virat Kohli added another significant milestone to his remarkable ODI career on Sunday as he surpassed Mohammad Azharuddin’s long-standing record during India’s first ODI against the West Indies at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
With his inclusion in India’s playing XI, Kohli made his 44th ODI appearance against the West Indies, moving past Azharuddin’s previous mark of 43 matches. The record had remained associated with the former India captain for nearly three decades before Kohli took the top position.
Kohli Becomes India’s Most-Capped ODI Player Against West Indies
Kohli’s 44th ODI against the Caribbean side makes him the Indian player with the most appearances against West Indies in the 50-over format.
Before the match, Kohli and Azharuddin were level on 43 matches. Kohli’s selection for the series opener gave him the opportunity to move ahead of the former India captain, and he achieved the landmark as soon as he walked out for the contest.
Kapil Dev follows the two former India captains on the list with 42 ODI appearances against West Indies, while Rahul Dravid and MS Dhoni have played 40 and 39 matches respectively against the Caribbean team.
A Record That Highlights Kohli’s Longevity
The achievement underlines Kohli’s extraordinary longevity in international cricket. His first ODI against West Indies came in 2009, and since then he has remained a key figure in India’s white-ball setup.
Across his 43 previous ODIs against West Indies, Kohli had accumulated 2,261 runs, making him the highest run-scorer in India-West Indies ODI contests. His record against the Caribbean side includes nine centuries and 11 half-centuries.
His consistency against West Indies has therefore made the opposition an important part of his ODI career, with several major milestones coming during encounters between the two teams.
Kohli Also Chasing 15,000 ODI Runs
The record against West Indies was not the only milestone surrounding Kohli’s return to the ODI side.
The former India captain entered the series with 14,941 ODI runs from 314 matches and 302 innings. He therefore needed only 59 runs to become the second batter in men’s ODI history to reach 15,000 runs, joining Sachin Tendulkar in the elite group.
Tendulkar remains the format’s leading run-scorer with 18,426 runs, while Kohli has continued to close in on several long-standing records during his ODI career.
More Records Within Kohli’s Reach
Kohli also entered the West Indies series within reach of another major Tendulkar record.
Before the opening ODI, Tendulkar held the record for the most ODI runs scored by an Indian at home, with 6,976 runs. Kohli had accumulated 6,867 home ODI runs and required another 110 to move beyond his former teammate.
The series could therefore provide Kohli with several opportunities to add to his statistical legacy.
India Begin ODI Series Against West Indies
The first ODI in Thiruvananthapuram is the opening match of a three-game series between India and West Indies. The second ODI is scheduled for September 30 in Guwahati, followed by the third match in New Chandigarh on October 3.
The series is also an important part of India’s preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup, with the team expected to use the matches to assess combinations and individual roles.
For Kohli, however, the opening game has already produced a record of its own. By making his 44th ODI appearance against West Indies, he moved beyond Azharuddin’s 28-year-old mark and added another statistical milestone to one of the longest ODI careers in Indian cricket.
