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SPORTS JANUARY 19, 2024 | The Indian Eye 42

Virat Kohli returns to run-scoring

ways, but redemption incomplete sans

ICC, IPL trophies

Despite being an incredible batter with many memorable knocks and moments,

the absence of an all-timer World Cup campaign was glaring in Virat’s resume

OUR BUREAU
New Delhi
fter a dry spell from 2020-
2022, India’s star batter Virat
AKohli returned to his normal,
run-scoring ways with a historic, re-
cord-breaking and consistent 2023
as a batter, breaking some massive
batting records previously considered
untouchable.
Though Virat’s redemption sto-
ry remains incomplete without the
presence of the highly-elusive Indi-
an Premier League (IPL) title, ICC
World Test Championship mace, and
the most heartbreaking of them all,
an ICC Cricket World Cup trophy at
home, Virat’s batting still gave mil-
lions of his fans immeasurable joy, ec-
stasy, pride, and many more reasons
to consider him their ‘GOAT’ (Great-
est of All Time).

Let us look at some major batting
records established by Virat in 2023:
Most centuries in ODI cricket
Just a decade back, Sachin Ten- the 2011 and 2015 CWC, he scored Cup edition, with a total of nine. This Most ODI centuries against a team
dulkar’s record of 49 ODI centuries 282 runs in nine matches and 305 included three centuries. In the third ODI against Sri Lan-
looked impossible to break. Then runs in eight matches, respectively. Most Indian Premier League ka back in January this year, Virat
stepped up a youngster from Delhi, All of this changed during this centuries - became the batter with the most hun-
piling up runs and centuries at a rate year’s World Cup at home, where Vi- Following his incredible 101 in dreds in ODIs against a team, with a
never seen before every year. On that rat’s familiarity with home conditions 61 balls against Gujarat Titans, Vi- total of 10 centuries against Sri Lanka.
eventful November 15 this year during and supreme form combined to give rat registered his seventh IPL centu- Virat smashed 166 in 110 balls in that
the ICC Cricket World Cup semi-final him a total of 765 runs in 11 match- ry and surpassed West Indies legend ODI, with 13 fours and eight sixes.
at Wankhede Stadium, Virat became es at an average of 95.62, with three Chris Gayle (six centuries) to become
the first player to make 50 ODI centu- centuries and six fifties. the batter with the most IPL tons. Most times 1,000 runs in ODIs
ries, achieving this feat in front of the He surpassed Sachin’s previous during a calendar year
legend himself, who was clapping for all-time great tally of 673 runs in the Fastest to 13,000 ODI runs - During the Cricket World Cup
him in the audience. 2003 Cricket World Cup and walked Virat became the fastest player match against Sri Lanka, Virat sur-
Most runs in a single ICC Cricket out with the ‘Player of the Tourna- to reach 13,000 ODI runs, doing so passed Sachin Tendulkar to become
World Cup event ment’ award. in just 267 innings during his 122-run a player with 1,000-plus ODI runs for
Despite being an incredi- Most fifty-plus scores in a single knock against Pakistan in the Asia the most time in a calendar year. Virat
ble batter with many memorable Cricket World Cup Cup this year. Now in 292 ODIs, Vi- has crossed 1,000 ODI runs in eight
knocks and moments, the absence During the ICC Cricket World rat has scored 13,848 runs at an aver- different calendar years, as compared
of an all-timer World Cup cam- Cup this year, Virat left behind Sachin age of 58.97 with 50 centuries and 72 to seven by Sachin.
paign was glaring in Virat’s resume. Tendulkar (one century and six fifties half-centuries and a highest score of Finally, in all 35 international
Though he scored 443 runs in in 2003 WC) and Bangladesh great 183. He is the third-highest run-scor- matches and 36 innings this year, Vi-
nine World Cup matches back in Shakib al Hasan (two centuries and er in ODI cricket, and his hunt for rat scored 2,048 runs at an average of
2019 with five fifties, it was still not five fifties in 2019 WC) to have the Sachin’s figures of 18,426 ODI runs 66.06, with eight centuries and 10 fif-
up to his gigantic standards. Even in most fifty-plus scores in a single World still goes strong. ties in 36 innings.

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