Legendary batter Virat Kohli is set to return to his play his first international game in over seven months with India set to take on Australia for the upcoming three-match ODI series, starting on Sunday, October 19. The right-hand batter is only continuing to play one format after retiring from Tests earlier this year and retiring from T20I last year. While the 36-year-old's ODI future remains uncertain, with reports swirling that he might not play the ODI World Cup 2027 event, Kohli is on the cusp of breaking a massive world record during the three ODIs against Australia.
The RCB batter just needs one hundred to break the record for most hundreds by a player in a single format. The veteran currently has 51 tons, level with batting icon Sachin Tendulkar, who ended his career with 51 hundreds in Test cricket. Since the inception of cricket, only two cricketers, Kohli and Tendulkar, have achieved this milestone of scoring 50 tons or more in a single format.
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Overall, Tendulkar leads the list of hundreds in international cricket with 100 tons (51 Tests, 49 ODIs), while Kohli is second with 82 tons to his name (51 ODIs, 30 Tests, 1 T20I). The RCB batter cherishes playing Down Under, having amassed 1,327 runs in 29 ODIs at an average of 51.03 and a strike rate of over 89, with five tons and six fifties in 29 innings and a best score of 133*.
Kohli's last five scores against Australia read: 54, 56, 85, 54, and 84, all half-centuries. The batter's five innings Down Under are 104, 46, 21, 89, and 63. Kohli also holds the record of most tons by a visiting batter in Australia across all formats (17). The 36-year-old also has a chance to match former skipper Rohit Sharma's record for most ODI tons against Australia Down Under. The Mumbai batter leads the list with four, while Kohli has three so far.
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Virat Kohli eyes big numbers against old nemesis Australia
It goes without saying that the former India captain loves playing against Australia. It was here he announced to the world as the chase master in 2012, and it was also at the same place he took over as India's Test captain in 2014. The 36-year-old has had numerous battles with Aussie fast bowlers and managed to come out on top on several occasions.
Kohli's never-say-die-attitude and thriving under pressure are the same qualities Aussie players possesses. That's why the Australian crowds also love the champion batter, and will probably see the last of him Down Under.
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