Virat Kohli added another step to his brilliant career during the second ODI against England by hauling the Australian great 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 are now above the former India captain on the all-time list, with Sachin Tendulkar continuing to hold the record.
Most international appearances
| Player | Esp | leave |
|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | 1989-2013 | 664 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 1997-2015 | 652 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | 2000-2015 | 594 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | 1989-2011 | 586 |
| Virat Kohli | 2008-2026 | 561 |
| Ricky Ponting | 1995-2012 | 560 |
| MS Dhoni | 2004-2019 | 538 |
Kohli celebrated the landmark with another composed innings, scoring 65 off 66 balls before falling. Jofra Archer for the second consecutive ODI in the series. Archer, re-introduced into the attack to break India’s flourishing partnership, struck with a long-on delivery that forced Kohli into a mistimed pull. The ball flew off the top edge and Adil Rashid completed a comfortable catch running from third man. Before his dismissal, Kohli played a key role in stabilizing India’s innings. I first 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 marvel. It was his 14th score of 50 or more in ODIs against England, drawing level with West Indian legend Viv Richards for the second-highest score against the opposition. Only Kumar Sangakkara, with 15 fifty-plus scores against England, stands ahead of the Indian batting star. Kohli’s latest feat also underlines his remarkable longevity across formats. Since his international debut in 2008, the 37-year-old has amassed more than 28,000 international runs and become one of the few cricketers to feature in more than 560 matches for his country.