Last few months have been tough for Virat Kohli. It was not long ago that Kohli was India's all-format captain but one reason or another led to his resignation or sacking as the skipper of the national side.
However, the former India captain continues to scratch records with the willow in his hand. The first ODI of the ongoing series between India and South Africa witnessed Kohli surpassing Sachin Tendulkar to become India's highest run-getter in away ODIs.
Kohli raced ahead of Sachin's tally of 5065 runs in away conditions after the former scored a 51-run knock in a losing cause. The 33-year-old batsman achieved the landmark as he reached the nine-run mark in his valiant innings at Boland Park, Paarl.
Tendulkar took 147 innings to score 5065 runs in away ODIs, while Kohli managed to break the record in mere 104 innings at a better average of 58. MS Dhoni (4520 runs), Rahul Dravid (3998 runs) and Sourav Ganguly (3468 runs) now follows Kohli in the list of most ODI runs scored in away conditions.
Notably, Kohli is now second to Tendulkar in the list of top-scorers against South Africa in ODIs. Sachin has record 2001 ODI runs to his name against the Proteas, most by a cricketer across countries.
The star India shocked the cricketing fraternity last week after the sudden announcement of leaving India's Test match captaincy. However, Virat's good start to the series with the bat is a testament to the fact that he is still the country's best white-ball batter.