Virat Kohli is widely regarded as a cricketing legend, renowned for his exceptional batting prowess across all formats of the game. Virat Kohli's ability to amass runs consistently on various pitches worldwide has solidified his status as a global superstar. However, it's the One Day International (ODI) format where Kohli truly shines. Considered the undisputed king of ODIs, Kohli possesses an unparalleled understanding of pacing his innings in this format. With nearly 14,000 runs already under his belt, he continues to dominate the ODI scene. Despite his remarkable achievements, former Australian opener Matthew Hayden surprisingly omitted Kohli from his all-time ODI World Cup XI, adding an intriguing twist to the ongoing debate about the greatest ODI batsmen of all time.
Not Virat Kohli in Matthew Hayden's all-time World Cup XI
A Pakistani journalist recently brought attention to a surprising omission in Matthew Hayden's all-time World Cup XI. The former Australian opener's team selection, which was publicly shared, notably excluded Virat Kohli.
Adam Gilchrist (wk), Virender Sehwag, Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Jacques Kallis, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shane Warne Muttiah Muralitharan, Glenn McGrath
Matthew Hayden's decision to exclude Virat Kohli from his all-time World Cup XI can be attributed to the timing of his selection. The team was chosen in 2014, prior to the 2015 ODI World Cup, when Kohli was still in the early stages of establishing his legendary status. At that point in his career, Kohli had only participated in one ODI World Cup (2011), where he contributed 282 runs with a single century. While impressive, his performance during that tournament did not yet showcase the dominance he would later exhibit. Given the context of the time, Hayden's selection can be considered accurate as it reflects the top players of that era. Notably, India went on to win the 2015 World Cup, marking their first championship in 28 years.
Virat Kohli has cemented his status as one of cricket's all-time greats. His extraordinary batting consistency across all formats is unparalleled, with an average nearing 50 in each. In the ODI format, Kohli's dominance is indisputable. With 13,848 runs from 292 matches at an astonishing average of 58.47 and a strike rate of 93.58, he has redefined batting standards. His recent achievement of 50 ODI centuries, including a milestone ton in the 2023 World Cup semi-final, underscores his unparalleled mastery. Kohli's World Cup performances have been equally exceptional. He stands as the second-highest run-scorer in World Cup history, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar. His 1795 runs from 37 matches, including five centuries and twelve half-centuries, highlight his consistency on the biggest stage. The 2023 World Cup was a testament to Kohli's brilliance. As the tournament's leading run-scorer with 765 runs at an average of 95.62 and a strike rate of 90.31, he shattered records and reaffirmed his position as a modern-day batting legend. With three centuries and six fifties in World Cups, Kohli's legacy continues to grow, and expectations for future tournaments remain high.
Meanwhile, after playing a crucial role in India's T20 World Cup title triumph, Kohli will now be seen in Men in Blue's upcoming ODI series against Sri Lank which is slated to start from August 2.
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