Published: Jun 11, 2013, 10:41 AM (IST)
Edited: Aug 19, 2014, 09:26 PM (IST)
In the CB series match against Sri Lanka in 2012, Virat Kohli (above) smashed 6,4,4,4,4 in an over to crush the aura of a world-class bowler like Lasith Malinga. The unbeaten knock of 133 is probably his best so far © Getty Images
By Prakash Govindasreenivasan
It was in August of 2008 when a 19-year-old Virat Kohli walked out in Indian colours for the first time. He was fresh and clearly upbeat after leading the Under-19 side to a World Cup victory in Kuala Lumpur, and yet, understandably nervous and a touch tentative while opening the Indian innings with Gautam Gambhir in Sri Lanka. Five years hence, on Tuesday, he will take the field to become the 30th Indian to play in 100 One-Day Internationals (ODIs).
Raj Kumar Sharma, who coached Kohli from when he was just nine, had only words of praise for his protégé. “I remember the first match vividly and wonder how time has flown. He is playing his 100th one-day match. He was so excited when he was picked. Now he is one of the best on the circuit,” Sharma told The Hindu. “It is a proud moment for all those associated with him from his formative years in cricket.”
Kohli entered the Indian dressing room at a time when most of the celebrated names had just left or were only featuring sporadically. The first three years of his career saw him build slowly but steadily as a potential key ingredient of the Indian batting line-up. With 10 fifties and five centuries to his name, he was starting to look comfortable and became a regular in the side. However, what followed in the next two years is what defines the man today.
Kohli’s domestic team coach Vijay Dahiya said, “There is a big difference in the Virat we have seen in the last two years. In terms of fitness, he has made amazing progress. The treadmill is his best friend when he is not playing. His mental and physical fitness go hand in hand.”
Kohli made great strides in 2011 and 2012, transforming himself into a vital cog in the Indian top-order after starting out as an overtly aggressive youngster. The aggression still exists, but has been better controlled. Apart from the batting, Kohli has also been an absolute asset on the field, taking the all important point position.
Kohli’s sheer dominance
In 99 ODIs, Kohli has 4,085 runs at an average only a few decimal points under 50. In the current team playing in the Champions Trophy 2013, only MS Dhoni (212) and Suresh Raina (140) have played more matches that Kohli. Raina has just eight runs more to his name than Kohli, despite playing 61 ODIs more than him. Rohit Sharma, who debuted when Kohli was still plying his trade in the U-19 circuit, has played fewer matches than the Delhi lad.
To say Kohli has left his peers behind is not the entire representation of his genius so far. In comparison, none of the greats of the previous decade could match up to what Kohli has done in the first five years of his glorious career.
Here’s a look at the list of some of India’s top batsmen and how they fared in the first 99 ODIs of their respective careers.
| Player | Runs | 50s | 100s |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 3139 | 20 | 4 |
| Sourav Ganguly | 3509 | 25 | 6 |
| Rahul Dravid | 3149 | 20 | 6 |
| Virender Sehwag | 2980 | 11 | 6 |
| Gautam Gambhir | 3374 | 21 | 7 |
| MS Dhoni | 2981 | 18 | 3 |
| Virat Kohli | 4085 | 22 | 13 |
The last two years in particular, have well and truly belonged to the Delhi lad. He has amassed 2,129 runs in 44 ODIs with eight of his 13 centuries coming in this period. With this, he has left behind even one of Sri Lanka’s greats, Kumar Sangakkara, who has scored 1,862 runs in 49 matches.
His phenomenal efforts so far, have not gone without being sighted and duly rewarded. In 2012, he walked away with the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year Award and the Polly Umrigar Award.
The Perception
On first look, Kohli does not look like the man whom a million people would love unconditionally. His flamboyant life style fails to portray him as one of those dedicated, determined and committed players that a country would pin all their hopes on. However, once Kohli steps onto the field, a different picture, as beautiful and rich, comes alive on the canvas. All those who have watched him grow from strength to strength in the last five years will not have a shadow of doubt about his commitment and eagerness to perform well each time he steps on the field and win matches for India.
Off the field, Kohli is probably the ‘fashion icon’ for some, a heart-throb for some others and even the most eligible bachelor for the rest. However, life has not always been as rosy as it currently seems. Kohli lost his father when he was only 18. At that young age, Kohli showed immaculate levels of maturity and professionalism when he went out to represent Delhi just hours after his father’s demise and came back to finish the last rites. Years later, he said, “We both [he and his father] had the same dream. He wanted me to play for India. After losing him, I just became more determined. Every time I do well on the field, I can sense his happiness.”
With such a spectacular start to his career, Kohli has left people with no choice but to compare him to some of the greats of the game. While it can be dismissed saying it’s too early, Kohli does seem to have the courage, confidence and the positive aggression that once belonged to the West Indian legend Sir Viv Richards. This, coupled with the hunger for runs that was the most salient feature of Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, puts him in the category of a legend in the making.
When he embarks on his 100th ODI on Tuesday, he can savour the moment, look up at the heavens and vow to move forward in the same manner in which he has done so far, while the ‘legendary’ status takes care of itself.
(Prakash Govindasreenivasan is a reporter with cricketcountry.com. His twitter handle is @kya_toh_bhi)
