Year Ender 2023: Virat Kohli 3.0 Dominated World Cricket Like A Boss

After a hundred-less run for almost two years that had many questioning his place in the Indian team across all formats, star batter Virat Kohli silenced critics with a monstrous 2023 batting-wise, which saw him shatter some massive batting records previously considered untouchable.

2023 will be known as the year that saw the much-awaited redemption of Kohli, who in fact ended his century drought in the closing stages of last year, triggering a record-breaking run.

Although Kohli's redemption story remains incomplete without the presence of a title, his batting still gave millions of his fans to consider him their 'GOAT' (Greatest of All Time).

Kohli has smashed ten hundreds - 2 in IPL, 2 in Tests and 6 in ODIs, that saw him break an impossible record, so far in 2023. He also smashed many other records this year. Here is a look at some of them:

Most centuries in ODI cricket

A decade ago, Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI centuries looked impossible to break, but on November 15 earlier this year during the ICC Cricket World Cup semi-final at Wankhede Stadium, Kohli made impossible, possible, becoming the first player to score 50 ODI centuries.

Most runs in a single ICC ODI World Cup Tournament

In the 2023 ODI World Cup, Kohli scored a total of 765 runs in 11 matches at an average of 95.62, with three centuries and six fifties, surpassing yet another record held by Tendulkar, who had scored 673 runs in the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

The 35-year-old's dominance with the bat saw him bag the ICC World Cup 2023 Player of the tournament award, his first in the four ODI World Cup appearances.

Most fifty-plus scores in a single ODI World Cup

During the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, Kohli left behind Tendulkar 7 fifty-plus scores in 2003 and Bangladesh's Shakib al Hasan 7 fifty-plus scores in 2019 World Cup to have the most fifty-plus scores in a single World Cup edition, with a total of nine.

Fastest to 13000 runs in ODIs

Kohli became the fastest player to reach 13000 ODI runs as he reached the milestone in just 267 innings with a 122-run knock against Pakistan in the Asia Cup this year. In 292 ODIs, Virat has scored 13848 runs at an average of 58.97 with 50 centuries and 72 half-centuries and a highest score of 183.

Fastest to 25000 and 26000 international runs

At the start of the year, Kohli completed 25000 international runs in just 549 innings, 28 innings fewer than Tendulkar. Then during the World Cup 2023, the 35-year-old became the fastest to 26000 international runs in just 567 innings, 33 innings faster than the legendary Tendulkar.

Most times 1000 runs in ODIs in a calendar year

Kohli surpassed another milestone set by Tendulkar after he became the player with most 1000-plus ODI runs in a calendar year. He achieved the feat during the 2023 World Cup, when he reached 1000 ODI runs in eighth calendar years.

Most IPL centuries

With two hundreds in the Indian Premier League earlier this year, Kohli took his centuries tally to 7, surpassing West Indies legend Chris Gayle (6 centuries) to become the batter with most IPL tons.

First-ever player to complete 7000 runs in IPL

Earlier this year in IPL 2023 in a match against Delhi Capitals, Kohli became the first player to touch the 7000-run mark in IPL. In 229 innings, he has scored 7263 runs at an average of 37.24 and a strike rate of over 130. He has seven centuries and 50 fifties to his name, with the best score of 113.

(With ANI inputs)