Thiruvananthapuram: Virat Kohli will have several major milestones in sight when India begin their three-match ODI series against the West Indies at the Greenfield International Stadium on September 27. The former India captain is within reach of four significant records associated with Sachin Tendulkar.

Kohli enters the series with 14,941 ODI runs from 314 matches and 302 innings. He needs 59 more runs to become only the second batter in men’s ODI history to reach 15,000 runs, after Tendulkar. Kohli also has 54 ODI centuries and 79 fifties.

The upcoming series provides Kohli with opportunities to move closer to several statistical landmarks, including records for ODI runs at home, international centuries at home and List-A hundreds.

Kohli 59 runs away from 15,000 ODI runs

The most immediate milestone for Kohli is the 15,000-run mark in ODIs.

Kohli currently has 14,941 runs and requires only 59 runs to reach the landmark. Tendulkar remains the only batter to have crossed 15,000 ODI runs, finishing his career with 18,426 runs.

Kohli could also become the fastest batter to reach 15,000 ODI runs. Tendulkar took 377 innings to reach the mark, while Kohli has so far batted in 302 ODI innings.

The Indian batter has been particularly successful against the West Indies. He has scored 2,261 runs in 43 ODIs against the Caribbean side at an average of 66.50, including nine centuries and 11 fifties.

Two centuries needed to surpass Tendulkar’s List-A record

Kohli is also approaching Tendulkar’s record for most List-A centuries.

The 37-year-old currently has 59 List-A hundreds, while Tendulkar finished his List-A career with 60. Kohli therefore needs two more centuries to move past the former India batter’s mark.

The record is separate from international centuries because List-A cricket includes domestic one-day competitions in addition to ODIs. Kohli’s potential move past Tendulkar’s mark would therefore come through his overall List-A record rather than his international ODI tally alone.

Kohli already holds the record for the most centuries in men’s ODIs, with 54, ahead of Tendulkar’s 49.

Kohli closing in on Tendulkar’s home-century record

Another record within reach is Tendulkar’s mark for international centuries scored in home conditions.

Kohli has 41 international centuries on Indian soil across formats and needs two more to move past Tendulkar’s record of 42. Tendulkar’s tally includes 22 Test centuries and 20 ODI centuries at home, while Kohli’s current total includes centuries in both Tests and ODIs.

Kohli’s continued presence in India’s ODI team means this record can now only be extended through his performances in the 50-over format, following his retirement from Test cricket and T20Is.

110 runs needed to break Tendulkar’s ODI record at home

Kohli is also within striking distance of another Tendulkar record — most ODI runs scored in home conditions.

Tendulkar accumulated 6,976 ODI runs in India. Kohli currently has 6,867 runs from 130 matches and 127 innings at home, leaving him 110 runs short of the record.

Kohli’s home ODI record currently includes 27 centuries and 36 fifties, with an average of 62.42 according to the figures published ahead of the West Indies series.

The three-match series could therefore provide multiple opportunities for Kohli to close the gap, depending on his scores across the games.

Strong record against West Indies

The West Indies have been one of Kohli’s most productive opponents in ODI cricket.

In 43 matches against them, he has scored 2,261 runs in 41 innings. His average of 66.50 is accompanied by nine centuries and 11 fifties.

Kohli has also enjoyed success at the venue where the opening ODI will be played. In two ODIs at Thiruvananthapuram, he has scored 199 runs without being dismissed. His previous innings at the venue include an unbeaten 166 against Sri Lanka in January 2023.

That innings came from 110 balls and included 13 fours and eight sixes, making it one of his notable ODI performances at the venue.

India begin ODI series under Shubman Gill

The India-West Indies ODI series begins on September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram. The second ODI is scheduled in Guwahati on September 30, followed by the third match in New Chandigarh on October 3.

Shubman Gill will lead India in the ODI series, while Rohit Sharma and Kohli remain part of the team’s 50-over plans. The series is also part of India’s preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

For Kohli, however, the three matches carry an additional statistical dimension. He enters the series 59 runs short of 15,000 ODI runs, 110 runs away from Tendulkar’s home ODI-run record and within reach of two other century-related milestones.

Kohli’s record against the West Indies means the series will also provide a familiar opponent against whom he has previously produced substantial scores.

As India begin the ODI leg of their West Indies assignment, the focus will therefore extend beyond the series result to the individual milestones that could be reached during the three matches.