Amid a fierce battle for the top run-scorer in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Virat Kohli is just 46 runs away from becoming the tournament’s all-time leading run-scorer.
Highlights:
- Virat Kohli registered his maiden Champions Trophy century in this edition of the tournament.
- Kohli fell cheaply in the group-stage match against New Zealand.
- Kohli has a chance to surpass West Indies legend Chris Gayle.
India’s in-form senior batter Virat Kohli is on the verge of making history. As India’s leading run-scorer in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025, he is closing in on an all-time record held by West Indies legend Chris Gayle. Gayle remains the highest run-scorer in Champions Trophy history, but Kohli is just behind him after his match-winning 84-run knock against Australia in the semifinal.
Chris Gayle has amassed 791 runs in 17 innings at an average of 52.73, with a strike rate of 88.77, including three centuries and a six. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli has scored 746 runs in 16 innings at an impressive average of 82.88, with one century and six half-centuries. The 36-year-old needs just 46 more runs in the final against New Zealand on March 9 to surpass Gayle and become the all-time leading run-scorer in Champions Trophy history.
A fierce battle is on for the top run-scorer of the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Kohli is the fourth-highest run-scorer in the ongoing tournament with 217 runs from four innings, while England’s Ben Duckett leads the charts with 227 runs from three innings.
Others in contention for the top run-scorer title include New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra (226 runs), Tom Latham (191 runs), Kane Williamson (189 runs), Will Young (150 runs), and India’s Shreyas Iyer (195 runs) and Shubman Gill (157 runs).
Shastri on Kohli, Williamson and Ravindra
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has labeled Kohli, Williamson, and Ravindra as dangerous players who could play a crucial role in the final showdown.
Ravi Shastri backed Kohli and Williamson as key threats in the final, saying, “Now (on) current form, Kohli. When these guys get hot and you let them get their first 10 runs, then they’re trouble. Whether it’s Williamson, whether it’s Kohli.”
Shastri also highlighted New Zealand’s key players, saying, “So from New Zealand, I would say Williamson. To an extent, Rachin Ravindra—he is a fabulous young player.”
Shastri further emphasized their impact in big matches, saying, “But these guys, when they smell the coffee and you let them, in a final, get to that 10-15, then they’re doubly dangerous.”
Kohli may break more records.
Kohli needs 105 more runs to surpass Tendulkar’s record against New Zealand in ODIs. If he scores a century in the final, he will claim the top spot among Indians. Ricky Ponting remains the highest overall with 1,971 runs.
