Virat Kohli has completed his 15 years in international cricket and on this huge occasion, the batting maestro’s supporters are celebrating his long journey for India. In his stellar international career, Kohli has registered a lot of records to his name with his extraordinary cricketing talent. Following the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar, he emerged as the most successful batter for India in international cricket.
Back in 2008, when India toured Sri Lanka, Kohli was handed his international debut in the first One-Day International (ODI) in Dambulla. However, he struggled for a couple of years to become a regular member of the Indian team but eventually, in 2010, he succeeded in proving his mettle and becoming an integral part of the side. On the occasion of Kohli’s 15th anniversary in international cricket, it’s time to revisit some of his great records.
Here are five unique feats of Virat Kohli in international cricket
5. Most Player of the Series Award winner in international cricket
Virat Kohli has done a marvellous job for India in all three formats of the sport. Serving India since 2008, Kohli has won a lot of matches for India, and his Player-of-the-Series (POTS) award collection corroborates this fact. Thus far, Kohli has won 20 POTS awards across formats.
In ODIs, he is placed in the third spot on the POTS award-winner list with 15 trophies, following Sanath Jayasuriya and Sachin Tendulkar. While in T20 Internationals (T20Is), he has become the recipient of the most POTS award with seven trophies. In the 2014 T20 World Cup, he became the POTS Award winner for ending up as the leading run-getter in the competition with 319 runs.
In Tests, he has won three POTS awards for India. Kohli led the Indian team to a Test series victory against England after eight years in 2016. Playing the five-match Test series, Kohli chalked up 655 runs in five Tests and got the POTS award for ending up as the highest run-scorer in the competition.
4. Most 100s in 300-plus scores while chasing
Kohli is also known as a chase master and his ODI batting numbers say that he deserves this title. Of Kohli’s 46 ODI centuries, 26 have come when India were chasing. Out of these 26 tons, nine were delivered from Kohli’s bat when the Men in Blue were following 300+ scores.
In the 2012 Commonwealth Bank (CB) Series, India were required to chase down 321 in 37 overs to keep their hopes for the final alive. Kohli stepped up in the massive game and played an unbeaten knock of 133 off 86 and took India home along with Suresh Raina. Kohli also became the Player of the Match for his sensational batting.
After 18 days of unprecedented Hobart knock, Kohli helped India win another game while chasing. This time, he came heavily on Pakistan and played his best ODI innings of 183 to help India pull off 330 comfortably in the Asia Cup 2012 match played in Mirpur.
3. Fastest batter to notch up 12000 ODI runs
Kohli’s ODI records are sensational as he is the fifth-leading run-scorer in the format with 12898 runs in 275 ODIs, with 46 centuries and 65 fifties. Before the end of his ODI career, he might surpass the legends such as Sanath Jayasuriya, Ricky Ponting, and Kumara Sangakkara and conclude his journey in one-day cricket as the leading run-getter in the format.
In December 2020, when India toured Australia, Kohli became the fastest batter to notch up 12000 ODI runs during the third ODI against Australia in Manuka Oval, Canberra. Kohli beat Tendulkar to become the owner of this record. He reached the landmark when he scored his 23rd run in the game.
Tendulkar completed his 12000 runs during the 2003 World Cup match against Pakistan and registered this feat to his name in 300 ODIs. While Kohli accomplished this milestone in the 242nd ODI and snatched the record from the legend to add another landmark achievement to his name.
2. Most matches as Test captain
Kohli got India’s Test captaincy mantle in 2014 December and under his leadership, India won their maiden Test series in Sri Lanka in September 2015. Under his captaincy, India continued their aggressive brand of cricket in the longest format, beating South Africa at home by 3-0.
This was India’s first Test series victory against the Proteas in 11 years. The next year, India hammered England by 4-0 and clinched a series win in red-ball cricket against the English side after eight years. Kohli’s biggest achievement as India’s Test captain came in 2018 when India toured Australia.
Retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by 2-1 in 2018, India wrote history under the veteran’s captaincy. It was India’s maiden Test series triumph on Australian soil. In 2022, Kohli stepped down from the position and ended up as the Indian captain to lead the team in most matches in the longest format (68 Tests).
1. The only player to pick up a wicket on zero ball
Kohli has achieved a lot of batting records in his vast international career. From becoming the highest run-scorer to holding the highest batting average in T20 Internationals, he has several records to his name as a batter in cricket’s shortest format. However, the veteran India player has also achieved a unique bowling record.
Back in 2011, when India toured England, Kohli got a chance in India’s white-ball team. In the only T20I game in Manchester, he failed to be among the runs but when he got a chance to bowl, the Delhi-born player removed dangerous Kevin Pietersen from the crease to help India make a comeback in the match.
This wicket became special for him as he scalped it on a zeroth ball. Bowling for the first time in T20I cricket, Kohli got Pietersen stumped by MS Dhoni down the leg side. The ball was declared wide by umpires and with this decision, he became the first bowler to pick up a wicket on the zeroth ball in men’s internationals.