Virat Kohli is unmistakably one of the finest contemporary cricketers, if not the most successful Captain in Indian cricket history. His path from being a child sensation to becoming a cricketing legend is laden with records and a cavalcade of trophies. Let us delve into the huge inventory of records and achievements of Virat Kohli that has attracted him to his peers.
Early Career and Rise to Prominence
Virat Kohli made his debut for India in the year 2008, Internationally as an ODI, against Sri Lanka. While his aggressive batting was initially tagged with him, it was his consistency and steely resolve while executing tough run chases that immediately gained him fame in international cricket. As a part of the Indian team that lifted the 2008 ICC Under-19 World Cup under the captaincy of Ravikumar Thilakraj, he received an important springboard into his career.
The glittering rise of Kohli started with the performance of the ODIs. By 2013, he was already in the reckoning for being one of the best batsmen in the world, dazzling with his skills in both chase and setting high targets.
Kohli’s ODI Records
Kohli possesses records which are in heaps and piles in ODIs. They only show how consistent, adaptable, and dominating he was in all formats during his active playing days, including:
Fastest to 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, 11,000, 12,000 and 13,000 Runs: Reid is known for breaking records in ODI cricket and he has established himself as the fastest player to reach these milestones with the strength of his consistency. It took him 205 innings to reach the 10,000-run mark in ODI cricket, a record previously held by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
Highest Average in ODI Cricket: Kohli boasts a staggering average just above 50. This is one of the biggest accomplishments a player can achieve in ODI cricket. Formerly, Kohli defined himself in terms of consistency in one-day games, especially while chasing a target.
Most Centuries Under Pressure Chasing Targets: Kohli has now risen to become the best ODI chaser. He has centuries (23) to his credit while chasing down targets, solidify to say the least that he performs under pressure situations.
Many Match-Winning Innings: Many of India’s successful ODIs have been rescued by Kohli, among others, for being able to guide the innings and finish the game off when needed. The knock against Australia during the 2018 series is one such example that exemplifies Kohli’s match-winning abilities.
Records of Virat Kohli As T20I
There is no arguing about the astonishing impact that Kohli has had on the shortest format of cricket, with countless records in T20 International cricket. Some distinguish him as
T20 international cricket has the highest batting average: Kohli, once again, holds a record for the highest batting average (50-plus) in T20 international cricket. Kohli with his reliability and capability to accelerate in the middle-overs makes him one among the most dangerous players in T20.
Top Scorer in T20 World Cup: Kohli has been the highest run scorer in several ICC T20 World Cups. Kohli’s performances always hold a decisive value for India in crucial matches.
First Player to Score 3 T20I Centuries: Kohli wrote history by becoming the first player to score three T20I centuries, which showed the essence of his versatility across formats and dominating nature in international leagues and international matches.
Test Cricket Records of Virat Kohli
Equally brilliant in Test cricket, Kohli sealed his destiny among the greats of the game. Some of his best Test cricket records include:
Most Centuries by an Indian in Test Cricket: Kohli broke so many records throughout his Test career and scored 25 Test centuries, the fastest for an Indian batsman in history. He is one of the greatest Test players of modern times, with an approach of aggression with controlledness.
Fastest to 8,000 and 9,000 Test Runs: Kohli has become the fastest to get 8,000 and 9,000 Test runs ever made, further establishing him as one of the go-to Test players of his generation. His success is partially attributable to his dominance in any environment, at home and abroad.
The Record for Most Runs in a Calendar Year: Kohli also owes the distinction of having scored the most runs in Tests in a calendar year, achieving over 2,500 runs in 2018. This remarkable achievement was accomplished through consistency in varied series.
Captaincy and Trophies
Add captionHe was given the mantle of captaincy from MS Dhoni in the year 2017, and he led Kohli India into dominance in all formats until now. Under his captaincy, India has achieved several major milestones.
ICC Champions Trophy (2013): Although he became the captain after the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, he played an important role in India’s victory in the tournament, finishing as one of the chief run-scorers.
Asia Cup (2018, 2012): Kohli has led his team to victory in the Asia Cup twice, in 2012 and 2018, with corresponding individual efforts aiding their triumphs.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy (2020-2021): Kohli has made history to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia during the 2020-2021 under his leadership. Although Kohli missed the last three tests of the series, his captaincy and contributions in the first two matches helped India win.
ICC Test Championship Final (2021): India under Kohli’s captaincy reached the final of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship in 2021, another achievement during his tenure.
Indian Premier League (IPL): Kohli has been very successful with the Royal Challengers successor in some manner, but the IPL title has remained elusive to him. His individual IPL records are classic, though-he is all-time leading run-scorers in IPL history and except for specific matches or series, he has been one of the top cricketers in the tournament since its inception.
Awards and Recognitions
Virat Kohli has received various awards since his fabulous years of cricket as stated below:
ICC Player of the Year (2017): Kohli was awarded ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2017 for an extraordinary year with the bat. He was several times named the ICC ODI Player of the Year.
Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan: Kohli received Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award in India, in 2017. In 2020, he was honored with the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in India.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (2017): The eminent Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, the highest sporting honor in India, was conferred upon Kohli in 2017 for his valuable contribution to Indian cricket.
Conclusion
Virat Kohli’s journey in the cricketing world has been mesmerizing. From record-breaking phenomena to a few major trophies, he has evolved into one of the modern greats of the game. His run hunger, leadership qualities, and unyielding determination have been an inspiration to a newer generation of cricketers. While the tangible aspects of his contributions to cricket will be measured in statistics, he will be remembered for the ability to excel when it matters the most for India.
There is much more credulity expected from Kohli as he unfolds his career, and fans and cricket lovers alike are waiting for the rest- for him to add more marks, more records, and trophies to an already glorious career.
