New Delhi: Team India superstar Virat Kohli completed 16 years in international cricket on Sunday, August 18. One of the greatest batters of all time, Kohli has been a prolific run machine for India across formats and continues to shatter records at will. The 35-year-old made his India debut in an ODI against Sri Lanka in Dambulla on this day, 16 years back in 2008.
From a prodigious youngster, who led India to a memorable triumph in the U-19 World Cup in 2008, Kohli has come a long way in establishing his credentials as a modern-day GOAT. He has already shattered multiple records with his incredible consistency and is far from done yet as he hopes to add more feathers to his already illustrious cap.
Viv Richards dominated limited-overs cricket in an era where fast bowling was ruthless and helmets were still rare in the game. Then came Sachin Tendulkar, arguably the best the cricketing world has ever seen. The Master Blaster dominated the best bowlers across conditions while making a nation fall in love with the game, thanks to his heroics.
Fittingly, Kohli took over the baton from Tendulkar and has entered the GOAT debate thanks to his sublime records and numbers. While it is almost impossible to compare Kohli with the likes of Tendulkar and Richards considering the advantages the batters enjoy in the modern-day game where the rules are tilted heavily in their favour, it would be unfair on Kohli to not put him in the same bracket as the legendary duo.
What makes Virat Kohli a modern-day GOAT?
Virat Kohli has already smashed a stunning 80 centuries in international cricket despite having played 130 fewer matches than the legendary Tendulkar, who finished with a total of 100 tons in 663 international matches (463 ODIs and 200 Tests). To Kohli’s credit, 125 out of the 533 international matches he has played have been T20Is, however, despite that he is just 21 short of breaking Tendulkar’s monstrous record that once looked nearly impossible to conquer.
1st man to complete 50 centuries in ODIs
Kohli completed his 50th ODI century with Tendulkar watching on from the stands, becoming the first man ever to reach a half-century of centuries in the fifty-over format. Kohli went past Tendulkar, who finished his career with 49 tons in ODIs, the most by any batter at the time. While Tendulkar finished with 49 centuries in 463 ODIs, Kohli managed to go past the Master Blaster in less than 200 innings than him.
Most runs, 50s and centuries since his debut
Virat Kohli has been a run machine ever since his debut for India in 2008 and is unlikely to stop anytime soon as he continues to scale new milestones in his career. Ever since his debut, Kohli has smashed 26,942 runs in international cricket which is the most by any batter in the world in the period. Since his debut, Kohli also holds the record for most centuries and fifties in international cricket.
Kohli has smashed a whopping 80 centuries, the most by any batter since his debut in international cricket. No active batter comes close to the Team India great in terms of centuries across formats. Kohli has smashed 140 fifties across formats since his debut which is the most by any batter in international cricket in that period.
A chase master
Kohli has been a chase master for India in white-ball cricket and has crafted many successful run chases to perfection. Perhaps he has learnt from one of the best in the business – his former captain MS Dhoni. From timing his innings well to accelerating just at the right time, Kohli knows all about forging a great run chase and has done it successfully for many years for India now.
His numbers while chasing speak for themselves as the senior India batter has amassed 5786 runs IN 105 innings for India in a successful run chase at an excellent average of 90.40 and a strike rate of 106, including 23 centuries. He holds the record for most runs by any batter in successful run chases in ODIs.
One of the best batters of the present era, Virat Kohli completed 16 years in international cricket for India on August 18, 20204. Here is a look at some incredible number and stats that prove why Kohli is a modern-day GOAT. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
