India's most prolific batter, Virat Kohli, has joined an elite group of Indian players — Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag— who have over their cricketing career struck 1000+ fours in both One-Day International (ODI) and Test formats, respectively. In a career spanning 24 years, Tendulkar hit 2,016 and over 2,058 fours in ODI and Tests, respectively, while Sehwag finished his career with 1,233 and 1,132 fours in 50-overs and red-ball cricket, respectively. Kohli joined this elite group during his unbeaten 29-run knock against Bangladesh in Kanpur last week, crossing the 1,000-four barrier with as many as four 4s in his knock. Virat Kohli Becomes Fastest Batsman to Score 27,000 Runs in International Cricket, Surpasses Sachin Tendulkar During IND vs BAN 2nd Test 2024.

In ODIs, Kohli has already slammed 1,302 fours and is the second-best Indian and fourth in the all-time list behind Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, and Kumar Sangakkara. ‘Khoob Bhalo Bashi’ Virat Kohli Speaks in Bengali as Mehidy Hasan Miraz Gifts Star Indian Cricketer A Bat (Watch Video).

Virat Kohli Joins Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara In All-Time List

In terms of overall fours in international cricket, combining all three (ODIs+Test+T20Is) formats, Tendulkar leads the tally with over 4,076 fours, with the second-best being former Sri Lanka captain and wicket-keeper Sangakkara with 3,015. In his solitary T20I for India, Tendulkar struck as many as two fours. Interestingly, Kohli is fifth on the list with 2,672 fours, ahead of former India coach and captain Rahul Dravid (2,604), but behind Australia's Ricky Ponting, and Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene, who occupy the third and fourth spots in the Top 5 list with 2,781 and 2,679 fours, respectively. 

Player   4s (Tests+ ODIs+ T20Is)   Matches (Tests+ ODIs+ T20Is)   
Sachin Tendulkar   4,076+   664  
Kumar Sangakkara   3,015   594  
Ricky Ponting   2,781   560  
Mahela Jayawardene   2,679   652  
Virat Kohli*  2,672   535 

Kohli, thus becomes only the third Indian to achieve this unique feat. Interestingly, Dravid, despite being the second-highest four-scorer in Tests (1,654), the former Indian skipper managed just 950 fours in ODIs

Virat Kohli Joins Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag In Elite Indian Batting List

Player  Fours Matches 
Tests  ODI  Tests  ODI 
Sachin Tendulkar  2,058+  2016  200  463 
Virender Sehwag  1,233  1,302  104  295 
Virat Kohli* 1,001  1,132  115  251 

(*- active player)

Meanwhile, Kohli will most likely feature in Tests against New Zealand. He had retired from T20I cricket earlier this year and will be out of action for some time with the India national cricket team taking on Bangladesh national cricket team in the three T20Is.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 04, 2024 06:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).