Virat Kohli has trouble scoring runs before the 2025 Champions Trophy. In the opening match against Bangladesh, he was cheaply removed. But on Sunday, February 23, in the much awaited match between India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, he exuded elegance.
With six wickets and 7.3 overs remaining, the renowned batsman helped India chase down a 242-run total with seven boundaries and an undefeated century (100* off 111 balls). This was the first ODI century since the one he struck against New Zealand in the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final, and it was also Kohli’s record-extending 51st.
In his discussion of the former captain of India, Michael Atherton noted that when it came to chasing in ODI cricket, no one was better than Kohli. The former England batsman praised Kohli’s incredible records and stated that although he is a reliable player in all formats, he may be at his best in the 50-over format.
“There has never been a better player in the history of the game than Virat Kohli in a run-chase in 50-over cricket,” Atherton stated on the “Sky Sports Podcast.”
“51 millennia is a staggering amount of time. He has scored 51 and reached 14,000 runs, which is more than only Tendulkar and Sangakkara have accomplished in one-day cricket. And he beat Sachin Tendulkar by approximately 60 innings, and I believe he beat Kumara by around 90 innings. In other words, ODI is maybe his greatest. He’s obviously a fantastic all-around player, but you’d have to say that ODI is his favorite format, he said.
Nasser Hussain, the former captain of England, concurred with Atherton’s analysis and ranked Kohli higher than legendary batsmen Sachin and Sangakkara.
He’s been a fantastic player. Yes, and based on the statistics you provided, you would have to say that he is arguably the greatest player in ODI history,” Hussain replied.
Tendulkar would be in the same discussion as you. You’d have AB de Villiers, Kumar. He’s at the top of the tree, but there have been some outstanding ones,” he said.
India secures a spot in the Champions Trophy semifinals.
Team India has already advanced to the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinals. Their final game in the group stage, which is just a formality. On March 2, the Men in Blue will take on New Zealand.
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