Kane Williamson Surpasses Virat Kohli to Become Second-Fastest Batter to 7,000 ODI Runs
New Zealand Captain Achieves Historic Feat with Match-Winning Century Against South Africa
New Zealand’s Kane Williamson has etched his name in the record books yet again, becoming the second-fastest batter in ODI history to reach 7,000 runs, surpassing Indian great Virat Kohli. The milestone came during Williamson’s unbeaten 133 off 113 balls in the second ODI against South Africa on February 10, 2025, during the ongoing tri-series in Pakistan.
His 14th ODI century played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s six-wicket victory, as they successfully chased down a 305-run target at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
Fastest Batters to Reach 7,000 ODI Runs
By achieving the landmark in 159 innings, Williamson surpassed cricketing icons such as Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Sourav Ganguly, Rohit Sharma, and Brian Lara.
🏏 Fastest to 7,000 ODI Runs (By Innings):
| Rank | Player | Team | Innings Taken |
| 1️ | Hashim Amla | South Africa | 150 |
| 2️ | Kane Williamson | New Zealand | 159 |
| 3️ | Virat Kohli | India | 161 |
| 4️ | AB de Villiers | South Africa | 166 |
| 5️ | Sourav Ganguly | India | 174 |
| 6️ | Rohit Sharma | India | 181 |
| 7️ | Brian Lara | West Indies | 183 |
| 8️ | Martin Guptill | New Zealand | 186 |
| 9️ | Desmond Haynes | West Indies | 187 |
| 10 | Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 188 |
Williamson now holds the New Zealand record for the fastest 7,000 ODI runs, surpassing former opener Martin Guptill, who reached the milestone in 186 innings.
The all-time record for the fastest to 7,000 ODI runs still belongs to South African legend Hashim Amla, who achieved the feat in just 150 innings.
Williamson’s Historic Knock Against South Africa
📅 Match: 2nd ODI – New Zealand vs South Africa
📍 Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
🏆 Result: New Zealand won by six wickets
In pursuit of 305, New Zealand’s innings was anchored by Kane Williamson, who played a captain’s knock, remaining unbeaten on 133 off 113 balls, steering the Black Caps to victory in 48.1 overs.
Key Stats from Williamson’s Innings:
✅ 133 off 113 balls*
✅ 14th ODI century
✅ Hit 11 fours & 3 sixes
✅ Built crucial partnerships to guide NZ to a comfortable win
Before the match, Williamson was sitting at 6,868 runs from 158 innings, needing 132 runs to reach the 7,000-run milestone. He achieved the mark in style, dominating the South African bowling attack.
Williamson Equals AB de Villiers in International Centuries
With this latest century, Williamson has now matched AB de Villiers’ tally of 47 international centuries, climbing to 14th place on the list of batters with the most international centuries.
🏏 Most International Centuries – Top 3 Players:
- Sachin Tendulkar – 100 centuries
- Virat Kohli – 80 centuries (as of 2025)
- Ricky Ponting – 71 centuries
Williamson’s consistent performances across all formats have made him one of the finest batters of the modern era, and with many years still ahead in his career, he could further rise in the all-time rankings.
What’s Next for Kane Williamson & New Zealand?
Williamson’s record-breaking innings has given New Zealand a major boost as they aim to dominate the tri-series against South Africa and Pakistan before heading into the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
📅 Upcoming Fixtures in Tri-Series:
🏏 vs Pakistan – February 13, 2025 (Lahore)
🏏 vs South Africa – February 16, 2025 (Karachi)
With New Zealand looking strong ahead of the ICC tournament, Williamson’s form will be crucial in their bid to secure their first-ever Champions Trophy title.
A True Modern-Day Great
With 7,000 ODI runs in just 159 innings, Kane Williamson has once again proven why he is one of the most consistent and technically gifted batters in world cricket. Surpassing Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and other greats, he continues to elevate New Zealand cricket to new heights.
🚀 Can Williamson guide New Zealand to Champions Trophy glory? Share your thoughts! 🏏🔥
