Cricket rarely provides clear conclusions to a player’s career. Most legends fade, grow old, or simply disappear. However, Virat Kohli, as expected, did neither in 2025. Rather than fade, grow old, or exist, he treated 2025 like a greatest hits collection released after announcing his retirement from Test cricket.

 

Kohli announced he would retire from Test Cricket on May 12th after having played in 123 test matches, having made 9,230 runs, having hit thirty centuries, and creating a new image for India as being an aggressive nation in Test match cricket. But this wasn’t just a retirement from Test Cricket, but rather a change in the type of cricket Kohli would play at 37 years old. He then led India to victory in the Champions Trophy under captain Rohit Sharma, captured his very first Indian Premier League title with the Royal Challengers Bangalore, and had 302 runs in three innings in a home series against South Africa, earning the player of the series award.

 

Speed Over Sentiment at 14,000 ODI Runs

 

During the high-pressure Champions Trophy clash against Pakistan, Kohli’s unbeaten 100 off 111 balls wasn’t flashy; it was forensic. Chasing 242, he paced the innings like a veteran accountant who knows exactly when to invest and when to withdraw.

 

The impact of that hit propelled Kohli to 14000+ ODI runs – and did so at a rate of one every 2.8 innings. Sachin Tendulkar took 7.6 years longer than Kohli to reach 14000+ ODI runs – i.e., 350 more innings than Kohli. This is not about diminishing Tendulkar’s achievements; this is about appreciating the different pace of the game Kohli was raised on. Kohli played in an era where athletes were expected to be more fit and work harder, had tighter training & competition schedules, and had greater access to data analysis – and as such, he developed his game to be far more efficient.

 

Climbing Past Giants, One Chase at a Time

 

Sydney, October 25. India vs Australia. A calm 74 off 81 balls*, a nine-wicket win, and another giant quietly overtaken. By surpassing Kumar Sangakkara’s 14,234 runs, Kohli became the second-highest run-scorer in ODI history. Only Tendulkar remains ahead.

 

What’s striking isn’t the number, it’s the method. Kohli didn’t bulldoze attacks late in his career. He refined strike rotation, minimized dot balls, and trusted his fitness to outlast bowlers. While others aged, Kohli optimized.

 

One Format, One Crown, No Debate

 

Ranchi, November 30. Against South Africa, Kohli’s 135 off 120 balls wasn’t just dominant, it was symbolic. That innings delivered his 52nd ODI century, pushing him past Tendulkar’s 51 centuries in Tests.

 

For the first time, cricket had a player holding the most centuries in a single international format. And it wasn’t built on flat-track bullying. Kohli’s ODI hundreds spanned eras, two new balls, five-fielders inside, relentless matchups, and constant scrutiny.

 

Knockout Cricket’s Most Reliable Constant

 

At the end of its violence, cricket can show how well a player’s technique can withstand the pressure that is put on a player. It can also be at the worst extreme to reveal what a player’s temperament is made of due to the many ICC tournament forms he has competed in (T20 World Cup, ODI World Cup, Champions Trophy & WTC Final). Kohli has seen everything there is to see as far as cricket can do for a player. He was the first player to score over 1,000 runs in ICC knockout matches; Kohli did this with an 85-run total for each of his knockout Champions Trophy matches in 2025 to reach 1000 ICC knockout match runs. The full picture?

 

  • 1,024 runs
  •  
  • 24 innings
  •  
  • Average: 48.76
  •  
  • 9 fifties, 1 century
  •  
  • Highest: 117 vs New Zealand (2023 WC semi-final)

 

Excellence Without the Bat

 

Great batters contribute. All-time greats influence games without scoring runs. In the Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia, Kohli caught Josh Inglis, moving past Rahul Dravid’s 334 catches to become India’s leading outfield catcher across formats.

 

Now at 342 catches in 665 innings, Kohli sits fifth all-time globally, behind only Jayawardene, Ponting, Ross Taylor, and Steve Smith. Slip catching, boundary riding, high-pressure moments, this record confirms what teammates always knew: Kohli’s intensity never clocked out, even when the bat rested.

 

Key Takeaway

 

Virat Kohli’s 2025 wasn’t about records; it was about mastering relevance in cricket’s most unforgiving era.

 

FAQs

 

1. What were Virat Kohli’s Top 5 milestones in 2025?

 

Fastest to 14,000 ODI runs, second-highest ODI run-scorer, most centuries in one format, 1,000 ICC knockout runs, and most catches by an Indian fielder.

 

2. Why was 2025 significant in Kohli’s career?

 

It combined Test retirement, ICC silverware, IPL success, and multiple records.

 

3. How did Kohli maintain elite performance at 37?

 

Through fitness, role clarity, adaptability, and exceptional game awareness.

 

Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.

 

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