Kohli Or Sachin - The Real Match-Winner
Virat Kohli has equalled Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI Hundreds (Source: AP Photos)
Virat Kohli achieved a historic milestone by scoring his 49th one-day international (ODI) hundred during a crucial World Cup match, equaling the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's world record. Virat Kohli, who celebrated his 35th birthday on the day of this record-equalling century, displayed immense skill and determination. Kohli's innings of 101 runs from 127 balls featured 10 crisply struck boundaries on a turning pitch in hot weather.
The crowd at Eden Gardens erupted in applause and rose to their feet as Kohli crossed the 90-run mark. Each run that followed was greeted with cheers and the moment he faced the penultimate ball of his innings, the predominantly Indian crowd erupted in jubilation, with countless cameras capturing this iconic event. It's worth noting that Sachin Tendulkar achieved his 49th ODI century after 451 innings, whereas Kohli accomplished this feat in only his 277th innings (out of 289 matches).
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In the 2023 World Cup, Kohli has now recorded two centuries along with four half-centuries in eight league games, making him the second highest run-scorer in the tournament behind South Africa's Quinton de Kock. Kohli's record-equalling century further cements his legacy as one of the all-time greats of ODI cricket and a true legend in the sport.
How Kohli Mastered the Art of Chasing in ODIs?
Kohli has achieved a century approximately every 5.65 innings, whereas Tendulkar had a similar frequency, with one century every 9.22 innings, when considering the cricketing standards of their respective eras.
Kohli has notched up 27 centuries when chasing in ODIs, out of which 23 have culminated in wins. In contrast, Tendulkar had scored 17 centuries while chasing, with merely three ending in defeats. However, Tendulkar leads Kohli in the number of hundreds scored when India batted first, with 32 centuries compared to Kohli's 22.
Furthermore, the increase in India's win percentage over the last 15 years has had a significant influence on the outcomes of these centuries. When Tendulkar played, India won only 50.54% of matches, while it is 61.59% when Kohli is part of the XI. Consequently, only 33 of Tendulkar's 49 centuries came in victories, whereas Kohli boasts 41 centuries in winning causes.
Tendulkar recorded 20 of his hundreds in ODIs played at home, whereas Kohli has 23 out of his 49 centuries scored in India. However, when it comes to centuries in away games, Kohli has a more significant count with 21, while Tendulkar had only 12. The decline in the number of ODI tournaments, particularly at neutral venues, played a role in limiting Kohli's opportunities to compete outside of the first ten full-member countries.
Kohli's ODI matches have been predominantly in bilateral series, covering about two-thirds of his appearances. In comparison, Tendulkar's ODI career consisted of a significant portion, around 40%, of matches in bilateral series. Kohli's remarkable feat is that he has scored at least one ODI hundred in each of the nine countries he has played in. Tendulkar, on the other hand, participated in ODIs across 16 different countries and achieved centuries in 12 of them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the comparison between Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar's ODI centuries unveils a fascinating insight into their extraordinary careers. Kohli's astonishing rate of achieving centuries every 5.65 innings highlights his consistency and prowess, while Tendulkar's legacy showcases a remarkable career that spanned multiple eras and conditions.
The impact of India's improved win percentage during Kohli's era reflects in his higher number of centuries in victories. Both legends have etched their names in cricket history with distinct achievements, contributing significantly to India's cricketing glory.
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