Modern-Day Great Virat Kohli Leaving The Likes Of Sachin Tendulkar And Ricky Ponting Behind

The juggernaut called Virat Kohli is totally unstoppable at the moment. Irrespective of the ground, conditions or oppositions, the India skipper just keeps on piling runs. The 28-year old recently hit his 31st ton in the One-Day Internationals to become the leading centurion in the 50-over format, going past the legendary Ricky Ponting‘s tally of 30 centuries. Kohli took only 200 games to reach the milestone and also became only the second player after AB de Villiers to score a century in the 200th ODI. He also has the most runs (8,888), best average (55.55) and most hundreds (31) than any other batsman after 200 ODIs.

Kohli’s unprecedented feat-achieving spree has left everyone gasping for breath and the Indian run machine has been earmarked to achieve several record especially breaking his illustrious ex-teammate Sachin Tendulkar‘s record of 49 ODI centuries.

So while Kohli is eyeing those records, we are taking a look at some of the highlights of his already illustrious career:

Averages better than Tendulkar outside India:

While Tendulkar is undoubtedly the most decorated batsman in the history of Indian cricket, his overseas record does not paint a pretty picture. The Master Blaster, who is the leading run-scorer in Tests and ODIs, averaged a modest 37.24 in the overseas ODIs overseas. On the other hand, Kohli averages an impressive 47.29 when he bats outside India. Coming to centuries, Tendulkar scored 29 overseas centuries and Kohli has so far scored 18.

The chase master:

Kohli is already hailed by many as one of the greatest chasers of all time in ODIs and the stats are also in his favour.  In 113 matches, the right-handed batsman averages close to 66 and has scored a staggering 19 hundreds and 27 fifties while batting second. 17 of his 19 centuries have come in winning causes which is most by any batsman.

On the contrary, Tendulkar managed to score only 17 of his 49 centuries in the second innings.  14 of those 17 centuries came in winning causes.

Kohli’s astonishing average of 95.11 in successful chases is the most for any batsman who has scored 3,000 runs or more. Second in the list is the legendary Brian Lara who averaged 68.58.

The run machine:

The India skipper is only the fifth batsman to score 1,000-plus runs in a year five or more times. Tendulkar has done it 7 times while Ganguly, Sangakkara and Ponting have done it 6 times. Kohli, however, is the only batsman to have scored four or more centuries in the seasons in which he scored 1000-plus runs.

Comparison with Tendulkar and Ponting:

Kohli’s consistency is way better than Tendulkar and Ponting after 200 ODIs. Tendulkar, who had scored his first ODI ton in his 76th match, had scored 7,305 runs after 200 ODIs while Kohli is just 112 runs short of reaching the 9,000-run mark after as many games. Kohli’s average of 55.55 is also way better than Tendulkar’s 41.97.

Comparing with Ponting, the former Australia skipper needed 349 innings to score his 30th hundred while Kohli achieved the feat in only his 186th innings before surpassing him in his 200th game.