Virat Kohli, the batting maestro, celebrates his 36th birthday today. While he may have wished to commemorate this special occasion with a Test victory over New Zealand, as he did on his 35th birthday during the ODI World Cup, he finds himself navigating a challenging period in his cricketing career.
Despite the current setbacks, Kohli remains an unparalleled icon, having led India to numerous memorable victories and etched unforgettable moments in the hearts of cricket enthusiasts. As he prepares for the upcoming tour of Australia, where India will face five Tests for the Border Gavaskar Trophy, let’s revisit some of his remarkable records:
* Most ODI Centuries: Kohli surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI centuries with a magnificent 117 against New Zealand in the ODI World Cup semifinal last year.
* Fastest to 13,000 ODI Runs: Kohli broke another Tendulkar record by reaching the milestone of 13,000 ODI runs in just 267 innings, while Tendulkar achieved it in 321 innings.
* Most Runs in an ODI Series and World Cup: Kohli’s 765 runs during the 2023 ODI World Cup stand as the highest tally in the tournament’s history, earning him the ‘Player of the Tournament’ award.
* Most Hundreds Against One Team: Kohli’s 10 centuries across formats against Sri Lanka are the most by a batsman against a single team.
* Most Player of the Series Awards (T20Is): Kohli’s 7 ‘Player of the Series’ awards in T20Is are the most by any cricketer.
* Most Player of the Series Awards (All Formats): Kohli has won an impressive 21 ‘Player of the Series’ awards across ODIs, T20Is, and Tests.
* Most Fifties in T20Is: The batting icon has scored 39 T20I half-centuries, the highest by any batsman.
As Kohli embarks on the challenging tour of Australia, his fans and the cricketing world eagerly await his return to form. His determination and resilience have always been his hallmarks, and he will undoubtedly strive to overcome this temporary setback and continue to inspire generations of cricketers.
