New Delhi: The one-day international (ODI) format, a half-century-old staple of cricket, is moving closer to its natural end due to the overwhelming global popularity of the shorter T20 format. This decline suggests that certain towering batting records, particularly those set by Indian legends, may forever remain unchallenged.
Sachin’s Himalayan Tally
At the pinnacle is Sachin Tendulkar’s mammoth career aggregate: 18,426 runs from 463 matches (452 innings). This colossal figure, achieved over a 23-year career, is now virtually untouchable.
In second place stands Virat Kohli with 14,255 runs from 305 matches (293 innings). While Kohli’s phenomenal early career form offered a genuine hope that the Master Blaster’s record might be broken, the drastic reduction in the number of ODI matches played globally over the past six to seven years has made that possibility increasingly remote.
Kohli’s Unmatched Consistency and ‘Chase Master’ Status
Despite the massive gap in overall runs, a deep dive into the statistics highlights Kohli’s extraordinary efficiency.
- Among the 98 players in ODI history with over 5,000 runs, Virat Kohli holds the highest career batting average at 57.71.
- This consistency is underscored when compared to Tendulkar’s own respectable ODI average of 44.83.
- Only six players globally with over 3,000 ODI runs boast an average over 50.00, with Kohli and M.S. Dhoni being the only Indians on that elite list (Pakistan’s Babar Azam is close with an average of 54.23).
Kohli’s true mastery shines in the run chase. An astounding 8,138 of his total 14,255 runs—more than 57%—have come when batting second. This chase-master brilliance is reflected in his average when chasing, which soars to 64.58. Furthermore, 28 of his 51 centuries and 42 of his 75 half-centuries have been scored during successful run pursuits.
