Virat Kohli scored 765 runs in the 2023 World Cup — the highest aggregate in a single World Cup — including 3 centuries (tying the record for most in a single tournament), as India went unbeaten in 10 matches before falling to Australia in the final.
India hosted the 2023 World Cup and were firm favourites throughout. Kohli, 34 years old and considered past his absolute peak by some analysts, produced the tournament of his career — cementing his status as the greatest ODI batsman of his generation.
India won every group match. Kohli played consistently throughout, accumulating runs in a way that recalled his early-career dominance. By the semi-final, he was clearly the tournament's best batsman.
765 runs in 11 innings at 95.62. Three centuries (vs Bangladesh, vs New Zealand, vs South Africa in the semi-final). Kohli became the joint-holder of the most centuries in a single World Cup (three, alongside Sachin in 2003 and Ganguly in 2003).
He also became the all-time highest run-scorer in World Cup history across all editions — passing Sachin Tendulkar's record of 2,278 runs, reaching 2,408 by the tournament's end.
In the final against Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium, India lost by 6 wickets — Travis Head made 137, Marnus Labuschagne 58, and Australia chased 241 with ease. India's first defeat of the tournament. Kohli's 54 in the final was one of India's better contributions.
Century vs New Zealand — Kohli in complete control
Passing Sachin's all-time World Cup record — 2,408 career World Cup runs
Three centuries in the tournament — joint record for a single edition
October 2023
World Cup begins — India host, Kohli immediate form
Group stage
Multiple half-centuries, then centuries vs Bangladesh and New Zealand
Semi-final
Century vs South Africa — India in final
November 19, 2023
Final vs Australia — India lose by 6 wickets, Kohli 54
Kohli's 2023 World Cup was the tournament of a career — the highest aggregate in a single edition, a new all-time record, and performances that confirmed he remained the world's best batsman at 34. The tournament loss to Australia is the regret; the individual achievement is permanent.
Kohli's 2023 tournament breaks Tendulkar's standing records — the all-time World Cup aggregate and the single-tournament aggregate both now belong to Kohli. His 765 runs is a number that will define the 2023 tournament for decades.
Australia vs West Indies
1960-12-14
The first tied Test in 86 years of cricket history — Australia and West Indies finished level on 737 runs each after five days of breathless cricket in Brisbane, producing one of the most dramatic finishes the game has ever seen.
India vs Australia
1986-09-22
Twenty-six years after Brisbane, cricket produced only its second tied Test — Dean Jones's heroic 210 through crippling heat and Dean Jones's fever, Ravi Shastri's unbeaten 48 and India needing 2 off the last over, only for Maninder Singh to be out lbw off the final ball.
Australia vs South Africa
1999-06-17
Lance Klusener smashed Australia to the brink of elimination, then ran out Allan Donald off the penultimate ball to tie the match — but Australia advanced to the final on superior run rate, ending South Africa's greatest World Cup campaign in devastating fashion.