NEW DELHI: Run-machine Virat Kohli once again proved why he is one of the greatest batters of all time, smashing his 51st ODI century to guide India to a six-wicket win over Pakistan in their ICC Champions Trophy clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Kohli’s unbeaten 100 off 111 balls helped India chase down 242 with 45 balls to spare, virtually securing their place in the semifinals of the tournament.
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While his match-winning knock was crucial for India, it also marked a historic milestone in international cricket. Kohli surpassed Ricky Ponting to become the third-highest run-scorer across formats, cementing his place among the legends of the game. He now has 27,503 runs in 614 innings, averaging 52.38, with 82 centuries and 142 half-centuries.
The only players ahead of Kohli on the all-time list are Sachin Tendulkar (34,357 runs in 782 innings) and Kumar Sangakkara (28,016 runs in 666 innings). With just 513 runs separating him from Sangakkara, Kohli is closing in fast on the Sri Lankan great.
Meanwhile, Ponting now sits fourth with 27,483 runs in 668 innings, followed by Mahela Jayawardene (25,957 runs in 725 innings) in fifth place.
Kohli also became the fastest batter to reach 14,000 ODI runs, achieving the feat in just 287 innings, breaking Tendulkar’s record of 350 innings.
With another match-winning century under his belt, Kohli continues to redefine cricketing greatness. As India marches toward the knockout stage, the batting maestro remains the biggest threat to any opposition, setting new records with every innings.
