Virat Kohli became only the second batter in history to reach 15,000 ODI runs, doing so in his 303rd innings during the first one-day international against West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, 74 innings quicker than Sachin Tendulkar managed the same feat.
He reached the landmark with a driven four through mid-wicket off Alzarri Joseph in the 29th over, having started the match needing just 59 runs to move past a mark only Tendulkar, with 18,426 career runs, had previously reached in the format.
Kohli went on to finish the chase with back to back sixes off Romario Shepherd, completing an eight-wicket win with 50 balls to spare and ending unbeaten on 126 from 85 balls with ten fours and seven sixes, the most he has ever hit in a single ODI innings.
The knock was also his 86th international century and his 25th hundred in a successful ODI chase, eleven clear of the next best, Rohit Sharma and Tendulkar, a record built on delivering when India have needed him most to finish off a run chase.
I got a challenge at this stage of my career to up the ante, play a gear or two higher. It excites me when you have to unlock a new version in your career, be it playing for India or in the IPL.Virat Kohli, India batsman
India's pursuit of West Indies' 295 for seven was built around a big stand between Kohli and captain Shubman Gill after Rohit Sharma fell in his 30s, with both men bringing up centuries as they played the percentages through the middle overs.
Gill was eventually dismissed for 110, but the result was already settled by then, allowing Kohli to accelerate late and close out the contest with little fuss, sealing the win and putting India 1-0 up in the three match series.
West Indies had earlier posted a competitive total built around Justin Greaves' century. He struck 101 off 108 balls, including 12 fours, and shared a 135 run opening stand with John Campbell, who made 62 off 60 balls with six fours and three sixes.
Amir Jangoo added a rapid unbeaten 58 from 43 balls late in the innings, reaching his own fifty in 38 balls, before Kuldeep Yadav's four wickets for 40 runs from his ten overs restricted the visitors and set up India's chase.
Speaking afterwards, Kohli played down the significance of the numbers themselves.
"My focus has never been on these milestones. It's been about focusing on situations, doing the job for the team. Obviously I feel very grateful and blessed for having played so long," he said.
He credited a clear mind and physical conditioning for his continued output at 37.
"It's all about staying mentally fresh, in the present moment, expressing myself out there. To follow a free mind, you need a fit body. Then I can visualise my game and execute it the way I did tonight," he said.
Kohli also spoke about the challenge of sustaining his standards this late in his career. "I got a challenge at this stage of my career to up the ante, play a gear or two higher. It excites me when you have to unlock a new version in your career, be it playing for India or in the IPL," he said.
On his century stand with Gill, Kohli kept it short. "When you play with a guy like that, it's not that tough to string a partnership. There's not much that needs to be said to him," he said.
Now retired from Tests and T20 internationals, Kohli is playing what he has confirmed will be his fifth and final ODI World Cup next year, having previously said he intends to "leave everything out there" as he chases a second title after 2011.