In Numbers: Celebrating 10 years of Virat Kohli

There is no denying the fact that in modern era if there’s someone who is as consistent as Sachin Tendulkar, possesses the same attitude as of Vivian Richards and is as hungry for runs as any other batsman, he’s Indian skipper Virat Kohli. It has been an absolute privilege to witness him live during his prime over the years.

Kohli made his debut against Sri Lanka in 2008, and ever since he is resigning his authority in the World of cricket. Despite being amidst the legends of the game, the aggressive right-handed was able to carve out an image for himself in that Indian team.

It has been 10 years for Virat when he first donned the Indian jersey for the senior men’s team and there hasn’t been any record that the modern master has failed to achieve through his class in batsmanship.

A month ago, when many reckoned him as a flat track bully, his innings of 149 at Edgbaston brushed aside all the unhealthy talks to once again stamp his authority to be unanimously known as the best batsmen in modern days.

We revisit his career through staggering numbers that Kohli has managed to generate in the years gone by.

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#1 Playing with averages in International cricket

Virat Kohli is second to none when it comes to batting in ODI cricket. He possesses a mind-boggling average of 58.21 in 50-overs cricket to categorize him as the best in the world. Not only this, he also accounts for the best batting average of 82.67 for a skipper in ODIs. The figure mounts to 103.04 in wins as captain in ODI cricket.

In a very short span of his captaincy stint in the longest format, Kohli records 5th best average of 64.84 as Test skipper (Min 1000 runs). As a whole, he also boasts to have the best average in International cricket amongst the players who have scored 10k or more runs. Here he stands above all with 55.40 runs per game.

#2 Scoring 100s is next to having a meal each day

This has been the quality of this Champion player. His ability to rule out opposition from the game is as good as any other batsmen. He has the knack of piling up runs in form of 100s and 150s. In the calendar decade, Kohli has registered 57 centuries with 35 in 50-overs cricket, making him the batsmen with most in a decade. His contribution increases by many folds in his team’s success.

He has 21 hundreds while chasing in ODI cricket and 19 in successful run-chases, most for any batsmen in World cricket. Kohli’s glory is not just limited to India, his 33 hundreds outside the home are fifth-most in International Cricket. With a total tally of 57 centuries, he is just 5th on the list of most hundreds in International cricket. Even as captain, he has most eight hundreds in ODI cricket in run-chases.

#3 Ahead by a mile in claiming milestones to fastest runs

Virat’s passion for the game and his exuberant character on the field makes him an asset in any team. He not only gives his 120% on the field but assures to take his side over the line on every possible game. His hunger for runs and the ability to make them with such an ease as well above the rest in the world.

Currently, he is fastest to 7000 and 8000 runs in ODI cricket. His aura sees him way ahead of his contemporaries. As skipper, he mustered quickest 1000, 2000 and 3000 runs in International cricket. In just 140 innings, he recorded 7000 runs as captain of India, most for any skipper in the International arena.

#4 Records galore even as Captain of the Men in Blue

Virat Kohli is from a different planet when it comes to his skills with the bat. But he’s not just a batman but also a leader who leads the way from the front. Kohli is leading an invincible group of lads when it comes to victories in Test cricket at home. His records speak volume of his stature as a skipper.

His record of 39 wins is joint-most ODI wins as captain after 50 ODIs. He has second-best win% as ODI captain - 76.47% (minimum 50 ODIs as captain). In Test cricket, he has joint-third in Win/Lose ratio as Test captain - 3.00 (minimum 35 Tests).

Virat is in his initial phase of captaincy and he has already led India to the final of Champions Trophy in 2017. In the years to come, one can expect a plethora of achievements against his name as a skipper.

#5 One of the 10 batsmen to top ICC Test and ODI batting ranking at the same time

Kohli is one of the best things that happened to Indian cricket in last ten years. A batsman who has grown up adoring his idol Sachin Tendulkar has left no stone unturned to go past his childhood hero in terms of the mere numbers he tends to generate. If there’s any batsman in World cricket who is even close to breaking the Tendulkar’s record of hundred 100s, it’s Virat Kohli.

Often people say him as the run-machine and in all true aspects, he is when it comes to taking the entire load upon his shoulders. After his majestic innings at Edgbaston, Kohli claimed the No.1 spot in Test rankings, toppling Steve Smith to achieve his career-best rating of 934 points. At the same time, he also happened to be the No.1 rank holder in ODI cricket. He is only the second Indian after Sachin Tendulkar to achieve this feat in last ten years.