Who is recognised as the fastest batsman to reach 19,000 international runs in cricket?

Introduction / Context:
Cricket records often focus on how quickly players reach major run milestones across formats. International runs are the combined total of runs scored in Tests, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). Reaching 19,000 international runs places a batsman among the all time greats, and doing so faster than anyone else is a significant achievement. This question checks your knowledge of which modern batting star is recognised as the fastest to reach this aggregate, a popular topic in recent cricket general knowledge.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are dealing with total international runs in all formats combined.
• The milestone is 19,000 international runs.
• The options are Brian Lara, Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, and Sunil Gavaskar.
• We assume official international matches in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.

Concept / Approach:
The concept is milestone record comparison between different legendary batsmen. Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara scored huge numbers of runs over long careers, but they played fewer T20I matches and took more innings overall to reach certain aggregates. Virat Kohli, by contrast, has been extremely consistent across formats and reached several milestones, including 10,000 ODI runs and later 19,000 international runs, in fewer innings than previous players. Sunil Gavaskar played in an earlier era with fewer international matches and does not reach the same combined total. The correct approach is to remember that Virat Kohli is frequently described as the fastest to multiple run milestones when you sum across formats.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that the question is about the fastest, not the first or the highest in absolute numbers. Step 2: Consider Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara, both of whom scored more than 19,000 international runs over long careers. Step 3: Recall that Virat Kohli has been setting records for the fewest innings taken to reach major milestones like 10,000 ODI runs and combined international aggregates. Step 4: Remember that Sunil Gavaskar mainly played Test and early ODI cricket and does not figure in records for fastest to such a high combined tally across all three formats. Step 5: Based on modern record summaries, identify Virat Kohli as the batsman recognised as the fastest to 19,000 international runs.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think about the narrative around each player. Tendulkar is usually called the highest run scorer in international cricket, but the phrase fastest to a specific combined total is more often associated with Kohli. Many statistics focused discussions mention that Kohli overtook Tendulkar and Lara in terms of innings needed to reach certain aggregates. Gavaskar is primarily referenced for Test runs and centuries, not for multi format combined milestones. When you recall that recent exam material often describes Kohli as the quickest to 10,000 ODI runs and then to 19,000 international runs, it confirms that he is the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Brian Lara: A legendary West Indian batsman with huge Test scores, but he did not reach 19,000 combined runs in fewer innings than Virat Kohli and is not recorded as the fastest to this milestone.
Sachin Tendulkar: Holds the record for the most international runs overall, but Virat Kohli surpassed his speed of reaching specific aggregates, so Tendulkar is not the fastest to 19,000 runs.
Sunil Gavaskar: Famous for being the first to 10,000 Test runs, but he does not hold records for fastest to 19,000 combined international runs and played fewer limited overs matches.

Common Pitfalls:
Many candidates confuse highest with fastest and instinctively choose Sachin Tendulkar whenever they see a large run number. Others may select Brian Lara due to his reputation for big scores without thinking about the combined innings required. To avoid such mistakes, always pay attention to the keyword fastest in the question and recall which player is usually highlighted for breaking speed records to reach milestones. For modern multi format aggregates, Virat Kohli is repeatedly mentioned as the quickest, which should guide your answer.

Final Answer:
The batsman recognised as the fastest to reach 19,000 international runs in cricket is Virat Kohli, so option B is correct.