Following a dry spell from 2020 to 2022, the renowned Indian cricketer Virat Kohli made an extraordinary return in 2023, reaffirming his status as a dominant run-scorer. Throughout the year, he shattered multiple long-standing batting records, leaving an indelible mark on the sport.
Kohli's journey in 2023 will be remembered as a tale of redemption. Every match, every series, and every tournament showcased his brilliance, as he consistently captured the headlines and rewrote the record books. Even on the occasional off day, his batting prowess remained awe-inspiring. While Virat's redemption story remains incomplete without clinching the elusive Indian Premier League (IPL) title, the ICC World Test Championship mace, and the ICC Cricket World Cup trophy on home soil, his batting prowess brought immeasurable joy, pride, and numerous reasons for his fans to consider him the 'Greatest of All Time' (GOAT).
Let's delve into some of the major batting records that Kohli established in 2023:
Most centuries in ODI cricket
Kohli's exceptional performance saw him surpass Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI centuries. On November 15, during the ICC Cricket World Cup semi-final at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Kohli became the first player to reach 50 ODI centuries. It was a moment of sheer brilliance, witnessed by Tendulkar himself, who applauded Kohli's achievement.
Most runs in a single ICC Cricket World Cup event
Kohli's familiarity with the home conditions played a crucial role as he accumulated an astounding 765 runs in 11 matches during the 2023 Cricket World Cup. With an average of 95.62, including three centuries and six fifties, he surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's record of 673 runs in the 2003 edition. Kohli's exceptional performance earned him the prestigious 'Player of the Tournament' award.
First-ever cricketer to achieve 3,000 runs across all ICC white-ball tournaments: Kohli etched his name in the annals of cricket history by becoming the first player to amass 3,000 runs across all white-ball ICC tournaments. This remarkable feat further solidified his reputation as one of the greatest limited-overs players of all time.
Most fifty-plus scores in a single Cricket World Cup
Setting a new benchmark, Virat registered a staggering nine fifty-plus scores, including three centuries, in a single edition of the Cricket World Cup. This remarkable achievement surpassed the records previously held by Sachin Tendulkar and Shakib al Hasan.
Most Indian Premier League centuries
Kohli's exceptional batting prowess saw him surpass Chris Gayle's record of six IPL centuries. The player achieved this in a match against Gujarat Titans, scoring 101 in 61 balls.
First-ever player to amass 7,000 IPL runs
Despite not clinching an IPL title with the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kohli's consistent batting performances propelled him to become the highest run-scorer in IPL history. During a match against the Delhi Capitals, Kohli crossed the monumental 7,000-run mark in the IPL (scoring a total of 7,263 runs in 237 matches and 229 innings).
The fans are eagerly waiting to see Kohli’s cricket performance in 2024. Virat already missed the first two games of the Test series against England and is about to miss at least two more. The player puts family before career: he and his wife Anushka Sharma are expecting a second child. Kohli’s availability for the Test final on March 6 is yet to be revealed, but it is obvious that this batsman still has more records to break.