This Day That Year: Virat Kohli made his ODI debut
One of the finest batsmen in World Cricket at the present,
Virat Kohli made his One-day international for Team India against Sri Lanka at
Dambulla on 18th August 2008.
He opened the innings along with Gautam Gambhir and was
dismissed for just 12 runs by Nuwan Kulasekara. The Indian team lost the match
badly by 8 wickets after being bowled out for 146 in 46 overs. Kohli played all
the 5 matches in the series and registered his maiden fifty in the 4th
ODI match.
On 24th December 2009, Virat Kohli registered his
maiden ODI century against Sri Lanka at Eden Garden’s, Kolkata. Coming at
number 4, he scored a brisk 107 and helped Team India win the match.
In the opening match of the 2011 World Cup against
Bangladesh, Kohli scored a superb century along with Virender Sehwag brilliance,
Indian team registered a comprehensive win over the hosts. He has played
brilliant innings in his career so far.
It has been a remarkable journey for Kohli so far. Since his
debut, Kohli has played a total of 248 matches (239 innings) and scored 11,867
runs with an amazing average of 59.34. His consistency has been amazing as he
scored 43 centuries and 58 half-centuries. His career-best score in ODI format
is 183 during a massive chase in 2012 Asia Cup encounter against arch-rivals
Pakistan at Sher- E- Bangla Stadium, Dhaka.
From 2013 onwards, Virat Kohli has been a consistent performer
for Team India in ODI format. Out of the 43 centuries he scored, 26 have come
while chasing showing his tremendous ability, hunger, and eager to win matches
for the country.
Kohli is currently the number 1 ranked ODI batsman in the
world now. He has held this position for quite some time. He became the
fastest to 10,000 ODI runs against West Indies at Vizag on 24th
October 2018.
He has scored centuries in New Zealand, South Africa, Sri
Lanka, Australia, Bangladesh. His last 2 centuries came during the West Indies
tour in 2019. Coming at number 3, Kohli has shown tremendous consistency.
Under his captaincy, Kohli reached the finals of Champions
Trophy 2017 but lost to arch-rivals Pakistan. After playing brilliant cricket
in the league stage of World Cup 2019, Kohli was not able to perform well and was
knocked out of the tournament by New Zealand.
From his debut in 2008-2014, Kohli scored 5634 runs from 134
matches with an average of 52.16 including a career-best 183. He hit 19
centuries during that period.
Since 2014 onwards, Kohli has shown tremendous consistency with
6233 runs from 114 matches with an amazing average of 67.75 with 160* against
South Africa at Cape Town in 2018. During this period, he has smashed 24
centuries.
Apart from 2015 and 2019, Kohli has been a great performer
for Team India in ODI format. He had an amazing year in ODI format during 2017
with 1460 runs from 26 matches ( 26 innings) with 6 centuries and 7
half-centuries. His career-best score in the year was 131.
In 2018, Kohli proved his mettle being the leading run-getter
in ODI format with 1202 runs from 14 matches ( 14 innings) with 6 centuries and
3 half-centuries. His best score in the year was 160* against South Africa.
His best ability is to convert singles into doubles, putting
pressure on the bowlers with his stroke play that makes him a genius. He takes
time if the bowling is going on well and then makes the bowler pay.
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