Who is the King of Cricket? Records, Run tally and Stats

Virat Kohli unquestionably is the king of cricket. Whether it’s pursuing formidable targets, effortlessly scoring centuries, or eloquently backing up words with actions in press conferences and on the field, the former captain of the Indian cricket team has excelled in every aspect.

In the past century, the game of cricket has witnessed numerous legends, yet few players have dominated the arena quite like Virat Kohli.

Read More: Virat Kohli Total Century List

In the dressing room, Virat Kohli has been in the company of modern-day cricket legends, including the calm captain MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma – hailed as the new deity of cricket after Sachin Tendulkar, the versatile AB de Villiers, the extraordinary Chris Gayle, and numerous other game legends. However, over the past decade, none has demonstrated the same level of prolific performance as King Kohli.

Virat Kohli in Numbers – Why is Virat Kohli the King of Cricket?

Virat Kohli holds the record for the most centuries against a single team in One Day International cricket, leading with an impressive nine centuries against West Indies. This achievement places him on par with Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who also has nine centuries against Australia. 

Notably, Kohli reached this milestone in just 42 matches. Additionally, he boasts eight centuries against Australia and Sri Lanka, five against New Zealand, and four against South Africa in ODI cricket. Virat Kohli holds the record for the fastest accumulation of 12,000 runs in One Day International (ODI) cricket, achieving this milestone in just 251 matches. 

This places him ahead of cricket luminaries like Tendulkar (300 matches), Ricky Ponting (314 matches), Kumar Sangakkara (336 matches), Sanath Jayasuriya (379 matches), and Mahela Jayawardene (399 matches). 

Kohli’s batting prowess has played a pivotal role in many of India’s successful chases, contributing significantly to Team India’s consistent rise in ICC rankings over the years.

In the T20 format, Kohli stands out with the most Man of the Series awards in T20 Internationals, boasting seven awards, surpassing players like Babar Azam, Glenn Maxwell, and David Warner. Impressively, he maintains consistency across all three cricket formats, earning a total of 19 Player of the Series awards in Test matches, ODIs, and T20Is combined – the second-highest by any player.

Notably, Virat Kohli holds the highest career batting average in T20 Internationals at 51.50, with Mohammad Rizwan closely following at 51.21. Other players are significantly behind this figure. Kohli also secures the record for the most number of half-centuries in T20Is, registering 30 fifties in 97 matches.

Virat Kohli’s International Career and Stats

Format	Matches	Runs	Highest score	Average	100s	50s
Test	108	8416	254*	48.93	28	28
ODI	274	12898	183	57.32	46	65
T20I	115	4008	122*	52.73	1	37
T20	360	11326	122*	40.88	6	85

Regarded as one of the premier cricketers of the modern era and unquestionably a legend in contemporary times, Virat Kohli possesses statistics that stand among the best in the history of the game. These accomplishments aptly justify his recognition as the ICC Men’s ODI Player of the Decade, cementing his status as the king of cricket.

In the Test arena, Kohli has amassed 8,007 runs in 100 matches, boasting an average of 50.35, including 27 centuries and 28 half-centuries. Standing second among an illustrious group of cricketers with two double hundreds in a Test series, he shares this distinction with only a few. Kohli’s unique feat of scoring four centuries in a single Test series is matched only by Sunil Gavaskar.

Transitioning to ODIs, Kohli’s dominance is evident with over 12,000 runs in 260 matches, marked by an impressive 43 centuries and 64 half-centuries. Ranking second in the list of most centuries in the format, he also holds the third position for the most runs (453) in a series and the fifth position for the most centuries (5) in a calendar year.

While T20Is may lack a century from Kohli’s bat, he compensates with an unmatched 30 half-centuries – the highest by any batsman in the format. Additionally, he claims the highest batting average in T20Is at 51.50. Kohli’s boundary-hitting prowess is evident with 298 fours in T20Is, securing the second-most number of fours in the shortest format, trailing only behind Ireland’s PR Stirling.

Virat Kohli’s Captaincy Stats

While Virat Kohli may not boast major titles as Team India’s skipper, he has undeniably excelled in leading the side, particularly in Test cricket. Overseeing the team in 68 Test matches, Kohli has steered India to victory in 40 encounters, showcasing remarkable success in the longest format with an impressive win percentage of 59.

In ODIs, Kohli stands as the fourth most successful Indian captain, securing 65 wins in 95 matches, following the ranks of Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly, and Mohammed Azharuddin. Despite this, he retains the distinction of being the second-highest run-scorer among Indian skippers, accumulating 5,449 runs, surpassed only by MS Dhoni (6,641). Kohli’s 21 centuries as Team India captain also position him second on the list of captains with the most centuries, trailing behind Ricky Ponting.

In T20Is, Kohli holds the second-highest success rate among Indian captains after MS Dhoni, clinching 30 wins in 50 matches. Impressively, he achieved the milestone of 1000 T20I runs in just 30 matches, establishing himself as the quickest skipper to reach this feat. King Kohli’s illustrious career is marked by numerous milestones that go beyond the scope of this blog.

FAQs on the King of Cricket