Five Records Virat Kohli might not be able to break in his career
Published - 27 Feb 2018, 07:19 PM | Updated - 22 Aug 2024, 11:49 PM
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The year of 2016 came in as a breakthrough year for India’s run-machine Virat Kohli. Since then, it is a matter of certainty that the chase master would topple one record or the//ther whenever he takes the guard in the crease.
Terms such as a good form or a purple patch are only applicable to other players and not the Indian all format captain. Barring the England tour in 2014, runs have never ceased to flow off the Kohli’s willow since he made his debut in 2008. It appears that his form is permanent along with his class.
However, there are some records which may remain intangible for even someone like a Virat. Here we look at some of the possibilities.
1. Most number of International runs
Virat Kohli might be creeping up the ladder in the list of most number of runs in International cricket steadily, but the ton-machine still has a fair distance to go. The God of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar has compiled as many as 34,357 runs in all formats of the game at international level, whereas Kohli is exactly at the halfway mark at 17,125 runs to his name.
Only Sri Lankan maestro Kumar Sangakkara managed to reach in the vicinity of this tally from Sachin with 28,016 runs to his name.
2. Most number of Test runs
Another feat which Virat Kohli might not be able to break is the tally of the most number of Test runs. This might also affect his tally in the International runs. Sachin Tendulkar is, again, miles away from Kohli in this regard.
Sachin has amassed as many as 15,921 runs in 200 Test matches. Virat Kohli, on the other hand, is a late bloomer in Test cricket as he got his opportunity in whites for India only in 2011. Since then, Kohli presently has 5,554 runs to his tally.
3. Centuries in all Test-playing nations
With the given diplomatic polarities between India and Pakistan, as well as the security concerns in the neighboring country, it appears that India might not tour Pakistan anytime soon which means that Kohli might not be able to score centuries in all Test-playing nations in both ODIs and Test.
Kohli already scored a ton in each of the nations he visited with his century in Durban. Only time will tell whether the Indian captain would be able to lift his bat in Pakistan and achieve the phenomenal feat which the likes of Sachin and Dravid have already accomplished.
4. Most fifties in International cricket
With 136 knocks above 50, VK already is also creeping up the ladder for the most number of 50’s in International Cricket. However, Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of 264 half centuries, remains miles ahead of the rest.
Ricky Ponting is the only batsman who managed to come close to this feat from Sachin Tendulkar, with 217 50+ scores to his name.
5. Most sixes in International cricket
When we look at someone like a Chris Gayle or Chris Lynn, these powerful batsmen deal in sixes more often than not. But with Kohli, it’s all about timing, placement, and scoring elegant boundaries at will.
Not that he does not have the power game for T20 cricket. His escapades in the 2016 edition of IPL is a living embodiment of his stature in the modern power game.
However, based on the style of play by Virat off-late, sixes come at a premium. Kohli is well aware of the prize on his wicket. Therefore, he minimizes all the risks by cutting off aerial shots. This is also a primary reason for his incredible consistency.
Only during the slog overs do we see Kohli going into overdrive and bring out his power game. That said, Shahid Afridi’s tally of 476 International sixes looks well out of reach for Kohli, by choice and not by lack of ability.
Gayle might go on to set a new world record as the explosive Jamaican is hovering around Afridi with 454 sixes.
