Virat Kohli has rewritten the record books, overtaking Sachin Tendulkar’s long-held record for the fastest 13,000 runs in One Day Internationals (ODIs).
This historic moment occurred during Kohli’s exceptional performance against Pakistan in the Super 04 stage of the Asia Cup on September 11, leaving cricket enthusiasts in awe.
Kohli’s remarkable journey to 13,000 runs in ODIs has now placed him in the elite company of cricket legends, including Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Sanath Jayasuriya, and Mahela Jayawardene, who had previously achieved this milestone. However, what truly sets Kohli apart is the speed at which he reached this historic feat.
Sachin Tendulkar, the “Little Master,” accomplished this milestone in 321 innings, a remarkable achievement in its own right.
Yet, Kohli’s blazing trail saw him achieve the same milestone in just 267 innings, making him the quickest player in the history of men’s ODIs to achieve this monumental record.
To put it in perspective, Ponting and Sangakkara took 341 and 363 innings, respectively, to reach this milestone, while Jayasuriya achieved it in 416 innings.
But the story doesn’t end there. What makes Kohli’s journey even more astonishing is his consistently high batting average of over 50, a testament to his incredible consistency and talent.
With an impressive 47 ODI centuries to his name, Kohli now stands just two centuries away from matching Tendulkar’s revered record of ODI tons.
Kohli’s journey to this remarkable milestone was not without its challenges. He resumed his innings from an overnight score of just seven runs and faced an early review for a caught-behind decision off Naseem Shah’s bowling.
However, he quickly found his groove and, alongside KL Rahul, forged a formidable partnership that contributed significantly to India’s imposing total in Colombo.
Kohli’s half-century came in a mere 55 balls, and he continued to accelerate, eventually reaching his 47th ODI century in just 29 more balls. Rahul also joined in the century-making festivities, further boosting India’s performance in the match.
In summary, Virat Kohli’s record-breaking feat has not only etched his name in cricket history but has also left fans and pundits marveling at his extraordinary talent and determination.
As he inches closer to matching Tendulkar’s century record, the cricketing world eagerly anticipates what more Kohli has in store for the future.
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