In the year 2026, Virat Kohli, the Indian cricketing king, will have a lot of records to break. The fans in India are also excited as King Kohli is in sight of three mega milestones this year. These Virat Kohli records to break in 2026 include IPL history-making feats and international run tallies that cement his legacy.
1. Virat Kohli IPL 9000 Runs Milestone
Virat Kohli needs just 339 more runs to become the first player ever to hit 9000 IPL runs. He stands at 8661 runs from 259 innings in 261 matches right now. This makes him the all-time IPL top scorer, already ahead of everyone else.
Why is Virat Kohli set to break multiple records in 2026 so likely? Look at his form. In the last three IPL seasons, Kohli scored over 600 runs each time. RCB won their first title in 2025, beating Punjab Kings in the final with Kohli leading the run charts. Now in IPL 2026, RCB defends the crown under Rajat Patidar, and Kohli plays all home games at Chinnaswamy, where he loves to fire.
Experts say he will smash this early in the season by mid-April. No one else comes close. Rohit Sharma trails far behind with 7046 runs in more innings. This was done by Kohli with just one team, RCB, since 2008, with loyalty and consistency. This Virat Kohli 9000 IPL runs record will put him in a club of one, proving his T20 dominance at 37.
2. Overtaking Sangakkara in International Runs
Virat Kohli sits at 27975 international runs, needing only 42 more to pass Kumar Sangakkara’s 28016. This puts him second behind Sachin Tendulkar’s 34357. He could hit this in the first ODI against New Zealand on January 11 in Vadodara.
The reason this Virat Kohli record to break in 2026 feels so real starts with his schedule. India plays three ODIs versus NZ in January at Vadodara, Rajkot, and Indore. Kohli just smashed a century in the Vijay Hazare for Delhi, showing white ball form is sharp. After T20 retirement and Test farewell, he focuses on ODIs, where he averages high.
Think about it. Sangakkara was great, but Kohli faced tougher attacks across formats. With 16 to 18 ODIs lined up in 2026, he might even eye 30000 runs first ever. This move to second in all international runs shows why fans call him the chase master. Virat Kohli is set to break multiple records in 2026, like this one boosts his chase of Tendulkar too.
3. Reaching 15000 ODI Runs Feat
Another huge one is Virat Kohli hitting 15000 ODI runs, second only to Sachin Tendulkar’s 18426. He has 14557 from 296 innings in 308 ODIs with 53 centuries, the most ever. Just 443 runs needed.
Why will Virat Kohli’s ODI 15000 runs happen in 2026? Simple math and form. India has plenty of ODIs this year, starting with the NZ series. Kohli averages over 58 in ODIs lately, with chases his strength. In the 2025 Champions Trophy, he starred for India to win. Plus Vijay Hazare ton proves bat is red hot.
This milestone means most runs in successful run chases. No one matches his 50-over consistency. Tendulkar set the bar, but Kohli is closing in, showing next-level skill. With ODIs his only format now, he plays every game firing big. Virat Kohli is set to break multiple records in 2026, which puts him level with his idol in the elite club.
Why These Records Feel Inevitable
This is fueled by Kohli’s hunger. He’s 37, but he overpowers his age by hitting sixes like a young gunslinger. His RCB IPL 2025 championship has bred confidence. ODIs in India against NZ offer the perfect kickoff. The past three years have already vindicated peak performance levels by scoring 600+ IPL runs and international fifties.
The Indian cricket schedule is an added advantage. After the ODI series in NZ, further bilateral ODIs are to follow. Kohli avoids T20Is. His training regime and mental acuity make Virat Kohli a record waiting to be broken in 2026, not a question of if, but when.
Also Read: ‘Dreams Don’t Come True…’ – Sarfaraz Khan on Patience for India White Ball Selection Comeback
Kohli’s Path to Glory in 2026
IPL 2026 will begin in March or April. This again will be ideal for 9000 runs. International matches throughout the year will be covered through ODIs scheduled in January. Social media will be abuzz as every single run will count. As a cricket admirer, the news delights me. “Kohli does not only break records,” he “inspires a generation.” Virat Kohli will break numerous records in 2026.
