Kohli needs 484 runs at the 2027 tournament to pass Tendulkar’s all-time total, and he has said it will be his last for India. He trails by 483 now. Kohli already owns the single-tournament record with 765 runs from 2023, while Tendulkar’s 2,278 across six tournaments remains the benchmark. At his career rate of 48.5 runs per innings, he needs about ten innings. The real question is how many matches India gets, because the format allows between five and 13.
Four Tournaments, Edition by Edition
Kohli has played four World Cups. He made 282 runs at 35.25 in 2011, 305 at 50.83 in 2015, 443 at 55.37 in 2019 and a record 765 at 95.62 in 2023, when his strike rate was 90.31. Each tournament improved on the last until 2023.
Edition | Runs | Average |
|---|---|---|
2011 | 282 | 35.25 |
2015 | 305 | 50.83 |
2019 | 443 | 55.37 |
2023 | 765 | 95.62 |
His total is 1,795 runs in 37 innings at 59.83, with five hundreds and 12 fifties. He scored a hundred on his World Cup debut against Bangladesh in 2011, and his 2023 total beat Tendulkar’s single-tournament record of 673. Few batters have such a complete record across four tournaments.
Standing Against Tendulkar’s Total
Tendulkar scored 2,278 runs in 44 innings across six World Cups. Behind Kohli, the top five is completed by Ricky Ponting on 1,743, Rohit Sharma on 1,575 and Kumar Sangakkara on 1,532, all unchanged since the 2023 final. Kohli is already second on the all-time list, 52 clear of Ponting. Tendulkar’s gap is the only one that matters now.
Position | Batter | Runs |
|---|---|---|
1 | Sachin Tendulkar | 2,278 |
2 | Virat Kohli | 1,795 |
3 | Ricky Ponting | 1,743 |
4 | Rohit Sharma | 1,575 |
5 | Kumar Sangakkara | 1,532 |
Kohli, 37, remains active in ODIs with 14,941 runs and 54 hundreds. He has said the 2027 tournament will be his last World Cup for India, so a gap of 483 has a single edition to close. That leaves very little margin for error.
Knockout Record Inside the Numbers
Kohli has played eight World Cup knockout matches, scoring 244 runs at 30.50. That implies about 1,551 runs at roughly 70.5 in league games, calculated from his career totals. Those numbers show a batter who is better in league games than in knockouts. His semi-final scores were 9, 1 and 1 before 117 against New Zealand in 2023, and all three early dismissals came against left-arm pacers.
He made 35 in the 2011 final and 54 in 2023, so the big-match gap is real, though not enormous. Tendulkar managed 339 runs at 48.42 in seven knockout matches, including a match-winning 85 against Pakistan in the 2011 semi-final.
Virat Kohli Cricket World Cup 2027 runs
India are in Group A with Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and a qualifier. They play Australia on 7 October in Cape Town and Pakistan on 10 October in Johannesburg. The top three in each group, plus the best fourth-placed side, reach a Super 7 round-robin, where each team plays six matches, before semi-finals on 17 and 18 November and the final on 21 November. That structure gives India a long runway if they qualify.
That means India play between five and 13 matches. At his career rate of 48.5 runs per innings, Kohli needs about ten innings. Over 11 matches he must average 44.0, and over 13, 37.2, both below his World Cup average of 59.83. His 2023 pace of 69.5 per innings would need seven.
Conditions in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia
Kohli’s ODI record in South Africa is strong: 993 runs in 20 matches at 76.38 with three hundreds, as of November 2025, including 160 not out in Cape Town in 2018. Those numbers make South Africa the most favourable stage in the tournament for him. India’s group games are in South Africa apart from Zimbabwe at Victoria Falls on 24 October, and Namibia hosts none of them.
The tournament uses 12 venues across the three countries, and that familiarity helps. Familiar surfaces and a long schedule give him the best chance of getting there. Any projection of Virat Kohli Cricket World Cup 2027 runs starts from that record, since 484 are needed and the schedule offers between five and 13 innings.
Will Kohli pass Tendulkar before the final ball of the 2027 tournament? Tell us your run total prediction in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many runs has Virat Kohli scored in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup?
Kohli has scored 1,795 runs in 37 innings across four tournaments. His average is 59.83, with five hundreds and 12 fifties.
Who has scored the most runs in World Cup history?
Sachin Tendulkar has scored the most, with 2,278 runs across six World Cups. Kohli is second on 1,795, 483 runs behind, ahead of Ricky Ponting on 1,743.
Will Virat Kohli play the 2027 ODI World Cup?
Kohli has said it will be his last World Cup for India. Squad selection is still to come, so his place is not yet confirmed for the tournament.
What is Virat Kohli’s record in World Cup knockout matches?
Kohli has scored 244 runs at 30.50 in eight knockout matches. His highest score is 117 against New Zealand in the 2023 semi-final, after semi-final scores of 9, 1, and 1.
How many World Cups has Virat Kohli played?
Kohli has played four World Cups: 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023. The 2027 edition in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia would be his fifth, and by his own account, his last for India.