India's final group-stage match against New Zealand will mark Kohli's 300th ODI appearance.
It was his 51st century in the 50-over format. With this knock, he also became the fastest batter to reach the milestone of 14,000 ODI runs, surpassing the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara.
Now, Kohli is on the verge of adding another feather to his illustrious cap. India's final group-stage match against New Zealand on March 2 will mark his 300th ODI appearance, making him just the seventh Indian to achieve this feat.
Ahead of the fixture, New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips heaped praise on Virat Kohli, saying that the Indian stalwart’s "legacy" will shine through the years while "inspiring" generations of young cricketers.
“Obviously, he's an incredible player. And to know him a little bit personally myself is awesome," said Phillips, who once shared dressing the dressing room with Kohli at Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
"He's an incredibly hard worker, and what he's done for the sport, but also for Indian cricket and also people coming through the game as youngsters now is absolutely fantastic,” Phillips added on the eve of the game.
The Kiwi cricketer said playing 300 ODIs in modern-day cricket where emphasis has shifted to T20s is a massive achievement.
“I think his legacy going forward will be remembered for a long time, inspiring a lot of people. And 300 ODIs, that's a big feat, especially in today's age, where one-day cricket isn't played as often as it used to be. So, it's really cool for him,” he remarked.
Phillips hoped that seasoned campaigner Kane Williamson too would join Kohli in run-making ways sooner than later.
“Then there's your point. Obviously he (Williamson) scored 130-odd - not out there (against South Africa in the recent tri-series), and he scored 60, and then he scored 40-odd, so I don't think he has a problem,” he stated.
(With PTI Inputs)