Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli became the fastest batter to score 5,000 ODI runs in home conditions. Kohli achieved the feat in his 96 innings in the 50-over format and broke legendary Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar’s record. Tendulkar achieved the feat in 126 innings.
The 33-year-old is also the second Indian batter to score 5,000 ODI runs in home conditions. Only two other batters in the world have scored 5,000 or more runs in home conditions. Former South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis and former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting breached the 5,000-run mark in home ODIs from 130 and 138 innings respectively.
Kohli did not play a big knock and got out after scoring just eight runs in the first ODI against West Indies at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Kohli reached the milestone with an uppercut off Alzarri Joseph in the 14th over of the run chase. The Delhi-born batter’s stay at the crease did not last long as he got out trying to play a pull shot off Joseph. He departed after scoring just eight runs from four deliveries.
Kohli now has 5,002 runs from 99 ODIs at an average of 59.94 including 19 centuries and 25 half-centuries. The list is topped by Tendulkar with 6,976 runs from 164 ODIs at an average of 48.81. Tendulkar has 20 centuries and 38 half-centuries in home conditions as well in the format.
Ponting has 5,521 runs at an average of 39.71 with the help of 14 centuries and 32 half-centuries from 154 ODIs. Kallis will be next on the list for Kohli to surpass as he has 5,186 runs from 144 ODIs at an average of 45.89 with six centuries and 40 half-centuries at home.
This was the first time Kohli played an ODI under the leadership of new limited-overs skipper Rohit Sharma. Rohit, on the other hand, got India off to a terrific start in the run chase. The opener scored 60 runs off 51 deliveries including 10 fours and one six. He also lost his wicket to Joseph in the same over as Kohli. He shared an 84-run partnership with Ishan Kishan.
