List of Batting Records by Virat Kohli: First Indian Cricketer to Score 500-Plus Runs, Three Centuries in a Bilateral Series

Indian skipper Virat Kohli is the new record man. The 29-year-old hammered 35th hundred against South Africa, second in the list of cricketers with the most number of international centuries. He is second only to the God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar who had blasted 49 ODI tons in his splendid career. Howbeit, the man of the hour is Virat Kohli who has taken the cricketing world by storm as a performing captain. Records tumbled in the sixth one-dayer as the Indian batting machine smashed an unbeaten 123 off 96 deliveries at SuperSport Park in Centurion. His whirlwind innings was the third hundred of the series that was touted to be a litmus test for the touring Indian cricket team. Nevertheless, Kohli and Co. clinched the series 5-1 with Men in Blue leader guiding his team by example. Here’s a look at all the records made and broken during the India vs South Africa 6th ODI 2018 by batting sensation, King Kohli.

1. When Virat Kohli reached 71 with a boundary off Andile Phehlukwayo, he became the first batsman ever to score 500 runs in a bilateral ODI series. The Delhi batsman overtook Rohit Sharma, another Team India member who earlier held the record of most runs scored in any bilateral ODI series. Sharma had scored a total of 491 runs against Australia in 2013-14. George Bailey of Australia is third in the list of most runs scored with 478 runs against India in 2013-14.

2. With his hundreds coming in Centurion, Durban and Cape Town against South Africa, Virat Kohli became the first Indian batsman to score three centuries in a bilateral series. Earlier, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman have scored three hundreds but not in a bilateral series. Ganguly has reached the landmark during the World Cup 2003 in South Africa while Laxman has blasted three tons during 2003–04 VB Series, a cricket tri-series among India, Zimbabwe and hosts Australia.

3. With his third hundred of the series coming in the sixth and last one-day match, Kohli stretched the number of tons as captain to 13 in ODI cricket. Virat is only behind three-time World Cup winning captain Ricky Ponting who has made 22 centuries as captain. Kohli is tied up in the second position with former South African captain AB de Villiers who also smashed 13 hundreds.

4. Fuelling the Kohli vs Tendulkar comparisons further is another record bettered by the current-generation batsman. Kohli reached the landmark of 35 centuries in ODI cricket in his 200th innings while Sachin achieved the same feat in his 309th innings. Yes, a good 109 innings less than the Master Blaster is definitely a morale-boosting achievement for King Kohli.

5. Virat Kohli also became the fastest cricketer to make 17000 international runs (5554 Runs in Tests, 9588 Runs in ODIs and 1956 Runs in T20Is). He surpassed flamboyant South African batsman AB de Villiers to reach 9500 runs in ODI format taking lesser innings. Kohli reached the feat in 200 innings compared to De Villiers’ 215 innings.

6. Kohli has not only broken records with a bat in his hand. The star Indian cricketer completed 100 catches in One-Day Internationals becoming the sixth Indian and 30th overall to claim 100 or more catches in their ODI careers. Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene is on top of the list with 218 catches.

During the post-match presentation ceremony, Indian captain made it clear of not slowing down when it comes to giving the best performance. Kohli was quoted saying, "I have got eight or nine years left in my career and I want to make the most of every day. It's a blessing that I am healthy and getting to captain my country." If King Kohli continues at this mercurial pace, no record in any format of the game is safe.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 17, 2018 10:52 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).