The great man Virat Kohli has turned 37. But even despite doing so much for his country, for his fans and for the game itself, one is sure that the scathing critic and those who from the plush comfort
of a 4/4 existence armchair activate the world with bizarre theories and grotesque analysis might want him to do more. That is when the following world records are about as inspiring as the midget size of Kohli's trollers.
All of the following statistical feats of amazement convey the legend that Virat Kohli is. And at the same time, go on to show that in an age of social media overdose, humungous achievements and truth be told, his are worthy of the adjective, we perhaps critique often, appreciate a bit less than we should and often side with biases and trolls when we aren't even playing on the field, let alone bearing the burden of unreal expectations of billions. Back then, we did that to our iconic Sachin, and off late, we are lamenting the great Virat Kohli. But well... it's what it is. Nevermind. But hey, do salute the young man for his bravado and excellence-
50+ ODI 100s
Virat Kohli, the batting enigma and a man as popular for his feats with the bat as he is for his quintessential beard, has hit the most centuries ever in ODI contests. He has 51 centuries where it comes to the fifty over game. In so doing, he is ahead of the man he is perhaps a bit too unnecessarily compared with. And who's that man? The great Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, worshipped like a god in a god-loving country where the love for cricket has not yet underscored the love for one's own family, which might not always be about cricketers, you see!
Fastest to 10K ODI runs
It took the great man 205 ODI innings and that's it, to reach 10,000 runs in the ODI format for India. The great Rohit Sharma, whose own contributions to Indian cricket are deserving of just as much respect for stewarding the team to lofty ICC winning peaks, took 36 more innings to do the same. However, Kohli attained the great feat against the West Indies many moons ago and just goes to show how long he has played the game for and with such distinct passion and addiction as only a devoted artist could or can. But then, isn't he one already?
Most player of the series awards (Tests+ODIs+T20Is)- 21
With 21 player-of-the-series-awards, King Kohli has, to put it mildly, raised the bar for cricketing excellence. There is no other way to put it. Not even King Kallis or the iconic Tendulkar and, lest it is forgotten, Sir Viv Richards or the Prince of batting called Lara, or the Root cause of bowlers' anguish and not even the suave stylist called Sangakkara come close.
Most Centuries in Run Chases (ODIs) - 28
No other one day international batter has scored as many centuries as Virat Kohli where it comes to run chases. With 28, he is quite ahead of good friend and among the much loved one day captains of all time, Rohit Sharma. The 'Hitman' of world cricket has 17 centuries in run chases.
In fact, Rohit Sharma and the legendary Sachin Tendulkar are tied at 17 centuries, the second-most in one day internationals where it comes to run chases.
But Kohli, being the king he has been, sits on this grandiose throne.
First Player to Score 4000 + T20I Runs
From 117 T20I innings, the man fondly described as King Kohli has already scored 4188 runs. He has done that with 1 century and also 38 fifties to his name, which is besides having a batting average that's touching 50. It's north of 48 at the moment.
If these aren't eye popping numbers, then will an AI version of him make do to fill the human greed for 'more' in this information infested age?
FAQs
What was Virat Kohli's first ever ODI century and against which team did he hit it?
In 2009, he hit at Eden Gardens his maiden ODI ton making 107 off 114 against Sri Lanka.
Why is Virat Kohli called the 'chase master'?
To those for whom cricket means the IPL or if not, then most certainly that 'convenient' opportunity of making a quick buck or two by means of rapacious online scammy deals, Virat Kohli must serve as a lesson in humility and that thing called fundamentals of life. How?
Had he not persevered for India, keeping the interest of the team before his own and not raised his game to a level where it served his country, he won't have hit 9077 runs from 163 innings. And while he did that always with pride and hunger for his nation, he averaged north of 82.
Perhaps that should make it clear why he is a chase master- in a world where many of us, if not most, chase ludicrousness and shallow means of accumulating wealth perhaps being aware all too much about the dangers of illegal betting and gambling!
