Akash Thakur
Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli turns 35 today, which also coincides with the Men in Blue’s next World Cup conquest against South Africa on Sunday. The World Cup match means fans will get a chance to see Kohli bat at the No 3-spot on his birthday.
1) Exceptional Test and ODI player:
Virat Kohli is the fifth highest run scorer in Tests, with 8,676 runs at an average of 49.29 in 111 matches played so far. The modern-day maestro has scored 29 centuries and 29 fifties, with a best score of 254* in the format.
Kohli is also the highest run-scorer in T20 cricket and holds the record for most man-of-the-match and man-of-the-series awards in the format.
Kohli has scored 4,008 runs in the 115 matches played so far at an average of 52.73 and a strike rate of 137.97. Kohli has one century and 37 half-centuries in the format and has a highest score of 122*.
2) Most successful test captain for India:
Virat Kohli is India’s most successful Test captain, with the team topping the Test rankings for five consecutive years during his captaincy.
Virat has captained India in a total of 68 matches, with 40 wins, 17 losses and 11 draws.
3) ODI maestro:
Virat Kohli is arguably one of the greatest batsmen to ever play the ODI format of the game. The 35-year-old is the fourth-highest run-scorer in the format and the second-highest ODI run-scorer for India behind his idol Sachin Tendulkar.
4) Second-highest ODI centuries:
Virat is currently chasing Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most centuries in the ODI format. The Little Master leads with 49 hundreds in 463 matches, while Kohli has 48 centuries despite playing far fewer matches (288) and will be looking to overtake Tendulkar during the current World Cup.
5) Chase Master Kohli:
Virat Kohli has been the backbone of India’s best chases over the last decade, earning him the title of ‘Chase Master’. Kohli has amassed 5,786 runs at an average of 90.40 during successful run chases in ODI cricket with 23 centuries and 25 half-centuries.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has sought expert advice to assess the pollution situation in the national capital Delhi. ICC said it was monitoring Delhi’s air quality and took seriously “the wellbeing of all participants” ahead of Monday’s match.
Kohli’s performance in the World Cup 2023 has been described as his best ever. He has already scored a hundred, an unbeaten 103 against Bangladesh in Pune, and four fifties. The hundred against Bangladesh moved the 35-year-old one step closer to equalling a record set by Sachin Tendulkar.
This is not the only record Kohli would be chasing this time at the World Cup.
Kohli aims to be the first Indian player to win two World Cups
Indian cricket has seen some of the biggest legends of the game wear its iconic jersey, but none of them have been able to win two ODI World Cups during their career. The likes of Kapil Dev and Tendulkar were able to win one but Kohli has a chance to make it two.
And he is turning no stone unturned in this pursuit. Kohli has scored 442 runs in seven innings so far in the World Cup and is in the top three highest run-getters of the tournament. Apart from a rare failure against England, the star batter has made a big splash and seems to be in prime touch at the moment.
He narrowly missed out on hundreds against New Zealand and Sri Lanka, which brings us to the next big record he looks to achieve possibly in the World Cup.
Kohli looking to scale Tendulkar’s ODI hundred tally
The moment Kohli got out against Sri Lanka for 88, silence quickly engulfed the Wankhede stadium. The fans in Mumbai were eagerly waiting to see the star batter match the tally of one of their favourite sons and an icon in the game.
Expect much the same on Sunday at the Eden Gardens. The teaser was there on Saturday itself when Kohli asked a small gathering to keep quiet and let him train. The “Kohli Kohli” chants gave way to silent admiration.
Kohli took throwdowns and then padded up to face the bowlers. One cover drive, a flick there, a solid defence in between, a down-the-track lofted shot… It was business as usual. No excitement of entering 35, no nerves of nearing a world record 49.
“I think Virat’s been really relaxed and as you can see in his performances, you know, batting really well for us, really keen to do well as he always is. So, look, I haven’t noticed anything different. He’s always been the same. He’s always been professional, always been hardworking, always been switched on. So, nothing different. And no, I don’t really think he’s thinking too much about 49 and 50, and probably certainly not about his birthday getting a year older. But no, I think he’s been really focused on winning the tournament and playing some good cricket for us. I think he’s doing that really well,” said India head coach Rahul Dravid on the eve of the match.
Umesh Rariya
