Indian captain Virat Kohli became the second batsman to score 40 ODI centuries, the last against Australia in Nagpur on Tuesday. Only countryman Sachin Tendulkar has more – 49.
- More than four Proteas put together
Kohli has more centuries than South Africans David Miller (five), Graeme Smith (10), Faf du Plessis (11) and Gary Kirsten’s (13) combined total of 39.
- A relatively lean 2011
The longest Kohli has gone without an ODI century is 17 innings. The 2011 World Cup, which was followed by the series against West Indies and England, didn’t yield a ton for the talismanic right-hander until the stretch was broken by a superb 107 in Cardiff.
- Just 10% against South Africa
Eight of the 40 centuries have come against Sri Lanka, followed by seven each versus the West Indies and Australia. He has scored four in two dozen innings against South Africa.
- No double, yet, if ever
Unlike fellow Indians Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma, Kohli does not boast an ODI double century. His highest score is 183 against Pakistan in Dhaka, 2012. Sharma, of course, has three double tons in ODI competition.
- Sub-continental lovin’
Almost 50% – 18 – of Kohli’s 40 ODI centuries have been collected in India. Nine more have been gathered in other parts of the sub-continent – Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The remaining 13 have been struck in Africa, the United Kingdom, Australasia and the Caribbean. Kohli hasn’t hit an ODI ton in the gulf’s United Arab Emirates.
- Kohli ton = probable victory
Kohli has struck 32 ODI centuries in victory – and six in defeat. One was amassed in a tie against the West Indies in Visakhapatnam last year. Tuesday’s result will determine in which category the 40th goes.
- Two of the best, forget the rest
He has batted in first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh position in ODI cricket. Only two of those, though, have brought centuries – 33 in third and seven in fourth.
Photo: Getty
