Virat Kohli played a superb ODI knock against the West Indies at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, September 27. He scored an unbeaten 139 off just 88 balls, hitting 10 fours and as many as nine sixes. The 37-year-old added 151 runs for the second wicket with skipper Shubman Gill (110) as Team India chased down a target of 296 with ease.
During his stupendous knock, Kohli became only the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar to notch up 15,000 runs in one-day internationals. While Tendulkar needed 377 innings to reach the milestone, Kohli got there in 303 innings. The nine sixes he hit during the match are also the most he has hit in an ODI.
Kohli also broke another major record, becoming the first batter to score 7,000 runs in home ODIs. On that note, let’s take a look at the top five Indian batters with most runs in one-dayers at home.
#5 Yuvraj Singh (3,415 runs)
Former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh is fifth on the list of Indian batters with most runs in home ODIs. He played 108 ODIs in India and, in 101 innings, smashed 3,415 runs at an average of 41.64 and a strike rate of 90.36, with the aid of seven hundreds and 21 half-centuries.
Yuvraj’s best score in home ODIs was 150, which came off 127 balls against England in Cuttack in January 2017 and featured 21 fours and three sixes. The southpaw also smacked 138* off just 78 balls against England in Rajkot in November 2008, with 16 fours and six sixes.
#4 MS Dhoni (4,351 runs)
Former captain MS Dhoni occupies the fourth spot on the list of India batters with most runs in home ODIs. In 127 one-dayers in India (113 innings), he scored 4,351 runs at an average of 53.71 and a strike rate of 91.60, with seven centuries and 25 half-centuries to his name.
Dhoni’s best score of 183* came off just 145 balls against Sri Lanka in Jaipur in October 2005 and featured 15 fours and 10 sixes. He also scored an iconic 148 off 123 balls against Pakistan in Visakhapatnam in April 2005. Dhoni struck 15 fours and four sixes in his maiden ODI hundred.
#3 Rohit Sharma (5,249 runs)
Seasoned opener Rohit Sharma is third on the list of Indian batters with most runs in home ODIs. In 104 matches (103 innings), he has scored 5,249 runs at an average of 55.25 and a strike rate of 103.65. The Hitman’s stats in one-dayers at home include 14 centuries and 25 half-centuries.
Rohit slammed a memorable 264 off 173 balls against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in November 2014, with 33 fours and nine sixes. He also hit a dazzling 209 off 158 balls against Australia in Bengaluru in November 2013 and 208* off 153 deliveries against Sri Lanka in Mohali in December 2017.
#2 Sachin Tendulkar (6,976 runs)
The legendary Tendulkar has moved down to second place on the list of Indian batters with most runs in home ODIs. In 164 matches (160 innings), he amassed 6,976 runs at an average of 48.11 and a strike rate of 88.39. Tendulkar’s stats in ODIs at home include 20 tons and 38 half-centuries.
The Master Blaster struck 200* off 147 balls against South Africa in Gwalior in February 2010, with 25 fours and three sixes. He also slammed 186* off 150 balls against New Zealand in Hyderabad in November 1999 and a resolute 175 off 141 balls against Australia in Hyderabad in November 2009.
#1 Virat Kohli (7,006 runs)
Kohli surpassed Tendulkar’s record on Sunday to become the leading run-getter in home ODIs. In 131 matches (128 innings), he has scored 7,006 runs at an average of 63.69 and a strike rate of 98.41, with 28 hundreds and 36 fifties.
Kohli struck a magnificent 166* off 110 balls against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram in January 2023, with 13 fours and eight sixes. He also hit 157* off 129 balls against the West Indies in Visakhapatnam in October 2018 and 154* off 134 balls against New Zealand in Mohali in October 2016.
Edited by Renin Wilben Albert