The current poster boy of Indian cricket Virat Kohli is surely on a record breaking spree this year. The Delhi lad is breaking record after record in 2016 and with the kind of form he is in, one can surely bet on him to break more records this year.
The 27-year-old’s phenomenal success in the T20 format has busted the myth that this version iis only meant for power-hitters. The talented right-hander prefers to play cricketing strokes only and that has given him plenty of success even in the slam-bang version. His ability to find the gaps and manoeuvre the cricket balls with precision made Harsha Bhogle say, "I think Virat Kohli has a GPS fitted in his mind, he can pick the gaps so easily.”
Well, the man has really stamped his authority on the T20 format with his umpteen accomplishments and in the process of doing that he has accumulated mind-boggling T20 statistics. Here we have tried to find 5 astonishing T20 stats about Virat Kohli which will simply blow your mind away.
NOTE: Records updated after RCB-Kings XI encounter.
1) Highest average in a calendar year
After an average 2015 by his standards, the 27-year-old started the year with a bang down under. Since then, he has amassed 1490 runs at an outstanding average of 99.33 in the 25 T20 matches he has played so far. The law of averages seems to have become futile in his case as he has continued his rich vein of form to torment the bowlers incessantly.
With a Bradmanesque average this year in T20s, Virat now possesses the highest average in a calendar year in T20s. In terms of runs in a calendar year, the RCB skipper is just behind his Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate Chris Gayle who scored the highest runs in a calendar year thrice.
But Gayle comes nowhere near Virat’s average in a calendar year, as the Delhi lad stands heads and shoulders above the rest in the list
| No. | Player | Year | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average |
| 1. | Virat Kohli | 2016 | 26 | 25 | 1490 | 99.33 |
| 2. | Chris Gayle | 2015 | 36 | 36 | 1665 | 59.46 |
| 3. | Chris Gayle | 2011 | 31 | 31 | 1497 | 57.57 |
| 4. | Martin Guptill | 2012 | 26 | 26 | 1042 | 52.10 |
| 5. | Chris Gayle | 2013 | 33 | 33 | 1344 | 49.77 |
| 6. | Kevin Pietersen | 2015 | 26 | 25 | 1020 | 48.57 |
| 7. | Chris Gayle | 2012 | 40 | 38 | 1532 | 47.87 |
| 8. | SureshRaina | 2010 | 29 | 29 | 1042 | 47.36 |
| 9. | JP Duminy | 2009 | 35 | 34 | 1019 | 44.30 |
| 10. | David Warner | 2011 | 33 | 33 | 1181 | 42.17 |
2) Astonishing average in chasing
Well, we all know Virat Kohli’s penchant for chasing targets. He is someone who thrives under pressure and relishes challenges. His game goes one notch higher whenever he is batting under pressure.
His mind-blowing stats in chases this year, especially in winning chases are a testament to the fact that the young man has the ability to stand up when it matters the most. The adage, “when the going gets tough, the tough gets going” fits perfectly.
This year, Kohli averages 138.25 in chases and in winning chases the figure reads 258. Yes, you read it right! His knock against Australia in the ICC T20 World Cup 2016 remains vivid in the memories of all as he almost singlehandedly chased the target set by Australia and propelled India to the semi-final.
In the ongoing IPL 2016 too, Virat has been magnificent while chasing. He scored a magnificent hundred in the game against Rising Pune Supergiants to guide his Royal Challengers Bangalore to victory.
3) Most runs in a single T20 tournament
Virat Kohli took this year’s IPL by storm as he continues to pummel bowlers at will. His unbelievable consistency has not only helped his side win matches, but also helped him breaking records with consummate ease.
After scoring the match-winning 75 not out in their last IPL 2016 encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders, Kohli now has surpassed his teammate, Chris Gayle and Michael Hussey, to record the highest number of runs in a T20 tournament.
Kohli’s tally of 865 runs in 13 matches so far is the highest in any T20 tournament. The previous record was jointly held by Chris Gayle and Michael Hussey who both scored 733 runs in a single IPL season in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
4) Most hundreds in a T20 tournament
Before IPL 2016, the current batting sensation of India didn’t have any hundreds in a T20 game. His previous highest score in a T20 match was 99 which he scored in the IPL 2013 against Delhi Daredevils.
The current king of the T20 cricket surely wanted to settle that score too. In the 9th edition of the cash-rich league, Virat has already scored 4 hundreds to achieve the record of scoring the most hundreds in a T20 tournament. He took the record off Australian Michael Klinger, who recorded 3 centuries playing for Gloucestershire in the NatWest T20 Blast in England in 2015.
His maiden century came against Gujarat Lions when he scored 100 not out. However, he had to finish on the losing side that day. Virat notched another in the game against the Rising Pune Supergiants to guide his team to victory while chasing.
He made his 3rd century against the Gujarat Lions again as he literally toyed with their bowling in that game. He and AB de Villiers caused mayhem as RCB humiliated Gujarat by 144 runs in that game. And against Kings XI Punjab on Wednesday it was hundred No.4
5) Highest batting average in T20Is
Virat Kohli has another interesting record in his kitty. In the T20 internationals, Virat Kohli’s career average of 58.60 is the highest amongst all batsmen. In 43 T20Is, Kohli has scored 1641 runs at and he has never scored a duck in his T20I career.
The second on the list is Aaron Finch whose average of 38.96 is way behind the man from India and it clearly shows the amount of impact the man has created in the T20 format.
While chasing in T20Is, his average becomes a staggering 91.80. In winning chases, the man continues to stun us with an astronomical average of 122.83.
One of the best batsmen in the world right now is surely leaving no stone unturned to cement his place in the list of all-time greats!
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