Ace India batter Virat Kohli on Friday went past Michael Bevan to become the highest averaging batter in List A cricket, after he scored a match-winning 77 for Delhi against Gujarat in the second-round
games of the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Bengaluru.
While the knock powered his side, it also carved out a special place for Kohli in cricket history.
With this knock, Kohli went past Bevan to become the highest-averaging batter in List A history among cricketers with at least 5,000 runs.
Kohli’s List A average now sits at a brilliant 57.87, edging past Bevan’s long-standing mark of 57.86.
Renowned as one of the greatest finishers in one-day cricket, Bevan’s record had remained unchallenged for many years.
Kohli’s knock against Gujarat came off just 61 deliveries. Over the years, his relentless appetite for runs and centuries has often drawn comparisons to batting legend Sachin Tendulkar. In recent months, Kohli’s form and his spot in the one-day setup had come under scrutiny.
Rather than slowing down, Kohli has fired back with a brilliant run of form, amassing 584 runs at an astonishing average of 146 in his last six List A games.
During this period, Kohli’s scores read like a masterclass: 77 vs Gujarat, 131 vs Andhra, an unbeaten 65 vs South Africa, 102 and 135 in other games against South Africa and 74 vs Australia.
On Wednesday, Player of the match Kohli (77, 61 balls) and skipper Rishabh Pant (70, 79b) carried Delhi to a modest 254/9 in 50 overs.
