These are some incredible milestones and achievements from Virat Kohli’s illustrious career! Let’s dive into each one:
Date: February 21, 2011
Opponents: India vs. Bangladesh
Venue: Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Achievement: Kohli made his World Cup debut in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and scored a brilliant century. He made 100 runs* off 83 balls, which helped India post a strong total in their opening match of the tournament.
Kohli’s century on World Cup debut was an unforgettable moment, and he played an important role in India’s title-winning campaign that year, making it even more special.
Kohli’s batting average in ODIs is an incredible 59.31, which is one of the highest for any player with a significant number of matches.
This average speaks volumes about his consistency, reliability, and dominance over the years in the format. His ability to anchor the innings and accelerate when required has made him a pivotal figure in ODI cricket.
Date: October 16, 2013
Opponents: India vs. Australia
Venue: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Achievement: Kohli scored a fastest century (100 not out) off just 52 balls against Australia in an ODI. This record was remarkable because it came in a high-pressure situation, and Kohli’s aggressive stroke play was on full display.
His knock helped India chase down a big target, and the innings is remembered as one of the most explosive in ODI history. His performance demonstrated his ability to switch gears quickly in limited-overs cricket.
Achievement: Virat Kohli became the fastest player to score 12,000 runs in ODIs, achieving the milestone in just 242 innings.
This broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record, who had reached 12,000 runs in 300 innings.
Kohli’s ability to consistently score runs at a rapid pace, and in different match situations, helped him set this remarkable record.
Achievement: Kohli reached the landmark of 43 centuries in ODIs in just 230 innings, breaking numerous records along the way.
His achievement was significant because no other player had scored as many centuries in such a short number of innings, further emphasizing his ability to maintain consistency at the highest level over a sustained period.
Award: Kohli was honored with the ICC Men’s ODI Player of the Decade Award in 2020, which celebrated his exceptional performances in One Day Internationals over the last decade (2010-2020).
During this period, he was consistently the best run-scorer in ODIs and dominated world cricket with his stellar performances. His record across formats during the decade solidified his place as one of the best batsmen of all time.
Award: Kohli also won the Sir Garfield Sobers Award for Male Cricketer of the Decade in 2020, a prestigious award presented by the ICC.
This award recognized his outstanding contribution to international cricket across all formats during the decade (2010-2020). Kohli’s dominance in all formats—ODIs, Tests, and T20Is—made him a worthy recipient of this honor.
His achievements during the decade include numerous centuries, match-winning performances, and consistent excellence, earning him accolades from both fans and experts alike.
Virat Kohli’s achievements are remarkable, making him one of the greatest cricketers of his generation. From record-breaking centuries and fastest runs to major awards, he has set a standard that few can match. His aggressive batting, mental fortitude, and ability to chase down targets have made him a formidable presence in world cricket.
His career is a collection of milestones, with every record he sets making a statement about his greatness. Whether it’s breaking records for centuries, achieving consistency in ODIs, or winning prestigious awards, Kohli’s journey continues to inspire cricket fans around the world.