Virat Kohli completes 11 years in International Cricket

Virat Kohli completes 11 years in International Cricket

From making his debut at the age of 19 to becoming a cricketing phenomenon at 30, Indian team skipper, Virat Kohli has emerged as arguably the best batsman of his generation.

Virat Kohli, on Sunday, recorded another milestone in his career, completing 11 years in International Cricket. Virat Kohli took to Instagram on the same day to express gratitude for all the success he has achieved in his career thus far.

“From starting as a teenager on the same day in 2008 to reflecting on the journey 11 years after on this present day in 2019, I couldn’t have dreamt of the blessings God has showered me with. May you all get the strength and power to follow your dreams and always follow the right path. #forevergrateful,” Kohli posted on Instagram.

As the Indian skipper completed 11 years in International Cricket, here’s reflecting on the most memorable years in Virat Kohli’s career thus far:

2008

Months after leading India to win the under-19 World Cup, Virat Kohli was brought to the Indian Cricket Team in the year 2008. Kohli played his first limited over’s series against Sri Lanka. Kohli played all five matches in the series, scoring 159 runs at an average of 31.8.

Year: 2008
Matches Played: 5
Runs scored: 159
Average: 31.8

He bettered his performance in the following year, scoring 325 runs in 10 at an average of 54.17.

2009

Year: 2009
Matches Played: 10
Runs scored: 325
Average: 54.7

2011

Year: 2011
Matches Played: 32
Runs Scored: 1381

A breakthrough year for the Indian skipper, Virat Kohli took part in his first-ever World Cup. Kohli made some important contributions in the perennial tournament, including his 35-run knock against Sri Lanka in the final of the World Cup.

In the same year, Virat Kohli notched up 1000 runs in a calendar year for the first time in his career. The RCB captain was showered with more opportunities in 2009 as he amassed as many as 1644 runs in 34 ODIs.

Virat Kohli also made his Test and T-20 debut in the same year. Much like his first ODI assignment, Virat Kohli didn’t make a fruitful start to his Test career, having scored just 202 runs in his first five innings.

2012

One-Day Internationals: 17
Runs Scored: 1026

Virat Kohli’s took his game to the next level in 2012. The skipper of Indian team made heads turn when he scored his maiden Test Hundred in Adelaide against a ferocious Australian attack.

Virat Kohli put all questions aside regarding him being called as a three-format player, as he piled up a plethora of runs in all three formats be it- Test Cricket, ODI Cricket, or T-20 Cricket.

Kohli scored 1026 in 17 innings at a scintillating average of 68.4, while the Indian skipper amassed 689 runs in nine matches and 471 runs in 14 T20’s.

Runs scored in Tests: 689 runs in 9 Matches.
Runs in Scored in ODI: 1026 runs in17 matches.
Runs scored in T-20s: 471 runs in 14 matches.

2015

One-Day Internationals: 20
Runs Scored: 623

Virat Kohli became the captain of Indian Test Team in 2015 after MS Dhoni surprisingly announced the retirement from Test Cricket.

Virat Kohli played his second World Cup in 2015. Team Indian failed to defend the World Cup title but Kohli played scintillatingly in the tournament. He started the tournament with a bang, scoring a heart-warming century against Pakistan.

2016

One-Day Matches: 10
Runs Scored: 739

Virat Kohli broke innumerable records in 2016. Kohli scored over 2500 International runs in a single year, averaging more than 75.

He enjoyed a stellar run in the 2016 T-20 World Cup, single-handedly taking India to semi-finals of the tournament.

RECORDS MADE BY VIRAT KOHLI IN 2016:

#1. Virat Kohli became the fastest to reach 25 ODI tons. He scored his 25th century against Australia in what was his 162nd innings.

#2. In 2016, Virat Kohli became the fastest to score 7500 runs in ODI cricket. Virat Kohli reached the landmark in 167 innings. The record was previously held by AB De Villiers who took 174 innings to notch 7500 runs in ODI cricket.

#3. Virat Kohli became the third captain to score three double hundreds in a year. He scored three double hundreds against West Indies, New Zealand, and England.

2018

One-day Matches: 14
Runs Scored: 1202

Virat Kohli became the fastest to score 10,000 ODI runs in International Cricket. He took only 205 innings to achieve the feat. The record was previously held by Sachin Tendulkar who took as many as 259 innings to reach the landmark.

In the year 2018, Virat Kohli also became the first batsmen in the history of ODI cricket to notch 500 runs in a bilateral ODI series. He scored 558 runs in just six matches at an average of 186 and a strike rate of 99.

The year 2018 saw Virat Kohli scoring the most number of overseas Test runs in a calendar year. He scored 1138 overseas Test runs in the year 2018.

At the age of 30, the Indian skipper has already scored over 11,000 runs in ODI cricket and given his form and fitness standards he maintains, there is perhaps slightest of hope of adding another 7000 runs to reach 20,000 ODI runs in International Cricket.