Indian cricket fans are in for a treat as batting stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are on the brink of shattering multiple records during the highly anticipated ODI series against Australia. Their pursuit of glory promises to add an extra layer of excitement to an already thrilling contest.
An image featuring Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, returning to India colors for the first time since the Champions Trophy, captures the anticipation surrounding their return.
Virat Kohli, often hailed as ‘King Kohli’, is just 54 runs shy of claiming the second spot in the all-time ODI run-scorers list. With an impressive 14,181 runs and an astounding average of 57.88, coupled with 51 centuries in the format, he’s currently behind only Kumar Sangakkara (14,234 runs) and the legendary Sachin Tendulkar (18,426 runs). In the broader white-ball cricket arena (ODIs and T20Is combined), Kohli needs merely 67 runs to surpass Tendulkar’s monumental record of 18,436 runs, having already amassed 18,369 runs.
Meanwhile, the ‘Hitman’ Rohit Sharma is set to achieve a monumental personal milestone, as he prepares to play his 500th international match. This incredible feat will make him only the eleventh cricketer globally and the fifth Indian to reach this rare landmark, joining an elite club that includes Sachin Tendulkar (664), Virat Kohli (550), MS Dhoni (538), and Rahul Dravid (509). Rohit has proudly represented India in 67 Tests, 273 ODIs, and 159 T20Is since his debut back in 2007.
But that’s not all for Rohit! He’s also eyeing the top spot in ODI six-hitting. Needing just six more maximums to reach 350 ODI sixes, he stands at 344 in 265 innings, trailing only Shahid Afridi’s 351 sixes. Eight additional sixes would crown him the all-time leader in this explosive category.
His record against Australia on their home soil is equally impressive, with 990 runs at an average of 58.23 in 19 matches, featuring four centuries and two fifties. A mere 10 more runs would make him the first Indian to score 1,000 ODI runs against Australia in Australia. Rohit is also on the cusp of his 50th international century across all formats; one more ton would make him the ninth player and third Indian to achieve this remarkable milestone.
Both Kohli and Rohit currently boast eight ODI centuries each against Australia. Another century from either player would see them draw level with Sachin Tendulkar’s record of nine ODI hundreds against Australia. Rohit is also close to reaching 20,000 international runs across all formats, requiring just 300 more to join Tendulkar (34,357), Kohli (27,599), and Dravid (24,208) in this exclusive Indian club.
These impending achievements add immense significance to the upcoming ODI series, as these senior Indian cricketers aim to further solidify their already legendary status in international cricket. Both have historically performed exceptionally well in Australia, with Rohit holding the best average for an away batter at 53.1, closely followed by Virat Kohli at 51.0.
Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma near multiple milestones in Australia
- Virat Kohli (14,181 runs) needs 54 more runs to surpass Kumar Sangakkara (14,234 runs) and become the second-highest run-scorer in ODIs. Sachin Tendulkar leads with 18,426 runs.
- Virat Kohli (18,369 runs) is also 67 runs away from surpassing Sachin Tendulkar (18,436 runs) to become the highest run-scorer in combined white-ball cricket (ODIs and T20Is).
- Rohit Sharma (344 sixes) requires 8 more sixes to become the all-time highest six-hitter in ODI cricket, surpassing Shahid Afridi (351 sixes).
- Rohit Sharma (499 matches) is set to play his 500th international match if he features in at least one of the three ODIs against Australia. He will be the 11th cricketer globally and the 5th Indian to reach this milestone.
- Rohit Sharma (990 runs) needs just 10 more runs in the upcoming ODIs to become the first Indian to score 1,000 runs against Australia in Australia in bilateral ODIs. West Indies’ Viv Richards holds the record for most bilateral ODI runs in Australia (1,905 runs).
- Rohit Sharma (49 hundreds) needs one more century to reach ‘fifty’ international hundreds, becoming the ninth player and third Indian to achieve this. The other Indians in the list are Sachin Tendulkar (100 centuries) and Virat Kohli (82 centuries).
- Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (8 centuries each) are level on ODI centuries against Australia. One more hundred would put either of them alongside Sachin Tendulkar (9 centuries) for the most ODI tons against Australia.