Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli has addressed discussions regarding his status as one of cricket’s greatest players, stating that he does not consider himself the best ever and acknowledging the achievements of players from different eras.
Speaking to JioStar ahead of India’s first One Day International (ODI) against West Indies scheduled for Sunday, Kohli reflected on the diverse talents that have shaped the sport. “I do not consider myself the best ever. Different players have existed in different times of the sport, and they have done some amazing things, but might not have accumulated those kinds of numbers, and some have numbers which are way better than mine. But I guess, apart from this, everyone’s main goal eventually is to create enough impact,” he remarked.
With 54 ODI centuries, over 28,000 international runs, nearing 15,000 ODI runs, and having secured every major International Cricket Council (ICC) trophy across formats, Kohli’s credentials often spark debate over his place among the greats. Throughout his career, he established new records and set high benchmarks in batting averages and rankings, and continues to break records in the latter stages of his ODI career.
Reflecting on his nearly 19-year career, Kohli expressed gratitude and motivation. “I have been fortunate enough to have played for so long, and of course, when you are motivated to do well over that period, you end up performing more often than not. But eventually, the end goal has always been to contribute towards the betterment of the team and take the team towards the result that we want. As long as that answer is yes, and you mix up experience, your fitness, game awareness and motivation all together. So, I am blessed that it is still there, and I continue to be excited to play for the country, which is a great honour,” he said.
Kohli is currently India’s second-highest ODI run-scorer behind Sachin Tendulkar, with Tendulkar having scored 18,426 runs. Kohli stands 59 runs short of reaching 15,000 ODI runs, having amassed 14,941 runs in 314 matches and 302 innings at an average of 58.59, including 54 centuries and 79 half-centuries, with a highest score of 183. He may become the fastest player to reach this milestone during the ongoing series.
The pursuit of his 100th international century remains a major objective for Kohli and his supporters. At 37 years old, he has accumulated 85 international centuries. Notably, he has scored nine centuries in 41 innings against West Indies, including the possibility of scoring multiple centuries or even a hat-trick of centuries-an achievement he has accomplished against this team before.
Kohli’s form at Thiruvananthapuram, where he remains unbeaten in two ODIs with a total of 199 runs, is promising. This includes a remarkable innings of 166 not out off 110 balls against Sri Lanka in January 2023, featuring 13 fours and eight sixes. This innings demonstrated an accelerated pace and mastery in ODI cricket.
Additionally, Kohli requires two more centuries to surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 60 List-A centuries, currently standing at 59. Such an accomplishment would further enhance Kohli’s legacy as a dominant batter in the 50-over format from state to international levels.
At home, Kohli has scored 41 international centuries, two short of Tendulkar’s all-time record of 42 centuries in home conditions. He is also poised to break the record for most ODI runs scored by a batter on home soil; Tendulkar holds this with 6,976 runs in 164 matches, while Kohli has 6,867 runs in 130 matches and 127 innings at an average of 62.42, including 27 centuries and 36 half-centuries.
This year alone, in six innings, Kohli has accumulated 384 runs at an average of 64.00 and a strike rate exceeding 106, including one century and three fifties.