Without any doubt, Virat Kohli has been the most dominant batsman in recent times where One-day Internationals (ODIs) are concerned.
Kohli, who struck his 36th ODI ton in India’s first match against West Indies in Guwahati on Sunday, now has 60 international hundreds (ODI+Test), only behind legendary Sachin Tendulkar (100), former Australian captain Ricky Ponting (71), Sri Lankan veteran Kumar Sangakkara (63) and South African legendary all-rounder Kallis (62).
Speaking about just opening batsmen, there is no doubt South African Hashim Amla has been the best for almost a decade now, but if you check statistics between the two ICC Cricket World Cups – 2015 and 2019 – Rohit Sharma has a way better CV to show in the opening department.
In 54 matches, Rohit has scored 2,997 runs since April 1 and he not only has the most runs but also the highest average of 65.15, most centuries (13), and joint fourth-highest in terms of half-centuries (11).
Rohit, who is just three runs away from recording 3,000 ODI runs since the World Cup 2015, is bound to achieve that in the remainder of the four ODIs against West Indies.
If Rohit achieves that, he will be the only opener so far to have scored 3,000 ODI runs since the 2015 World Cup as the next best openers are England’s Jason Roy (2,532 runs), South Africa’s Quinton de Kock (2,442 runs), Shikhar Dhawan (2,320 runs) and Australian David Warner (2,296 runs).
Moreover, he has remained unbeaten eight times, the most among these guys.
If Kohli has scored 14 ODI tons since the previous World Cup three years back, his deputy is not far behind with 13 tons.
If you talk about smashing those big hits, Rohit since the last World Cup has hit more than 100 sixes — 106 and counting — the most by any batsman and this demonstrates what a crucial role India’s vice-captain will play in the Indian side into the next World Cup.
