During the course of the fourth and final ODI of the curtailed series against West Indies, Virat Kohli smashed more than one record. The India number three became the fastest batsmen to hit 20 one-day hundreds, beating the record held by another Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar. During the course of his unbeaten 127 at Dharamshala, Kohli also joined the illustrious list of batsmen with 20 or more centuries in one-day cricket. Here’s a look at the eight batsmen with 20 plus one-day tons.
Virat Kohli: In his141st match, Kohli notched up his 20th one-day century as he smashed an unbeaten 127 against the disinterested West Indians. In 141 games (133 innings), he has notched up 5879 runs at an average of 51.5 with 20 hundreds and 33 fifties. Kohli has a strike rate touching 90, and a best of 183. He has been not out 19 times in his career thus far.
Sachin Tendulkar: The Indian legend is way ahead of the list, with 49 hundreds from 463 games. Tendulkar played 452 knocks, and amassed 18426 runs at an average of 45 and a strike rate of 86. Apart from his tons, he also has 96 fifties to his name. Tendulkar was unbeaten on 41 occasions during his career, and became the first man to score a double hundred in one-dayers, his best of 200 not out against the South Africans.
Ricky Ponting: The formerAustralian captain is a distant second with 30 ODI tons from 375 matches. Punter accumulated 13704 runs at an average of 42, and a strike rate of 80. Ponting smashed as many as 82 fifties during his career, and was unbeaten on 39 occasions. Punter’s highest ODI score was 164.
Sanath Jayasuriya: The Sri Lankan smasher is at number three. Jayasuriya hit 28 hundreds from 445 games. The former left-handed opener smashed 13340 runs while averaging 32 at a superior strike rate of 91. Jayasuriya had 68 half-centuries during his career, and was unbeaten 18 times. His highest was 189 against India.
Sourav Ganguly: The former India skipper finished with 22 hundreds from 311 matches. Ganguly totalled 11363 runs at an average of 41 and a strike rate of 73. Ganguly hit 72 fifties and was unbeaten on 23 occasions. His highest ODI score was 183 against Sri Lanka.
Herschelle Gibbs: South Africa’s controversial opener blasted 21 hundreds in 248 games. Gibbs scored 8094 runs at an average of 36 and a strike rate of 83. Apart from his hundreds, Gibbs also has 37 half-centuries to his name, along with 16 not outs. His highest score was 175 in that record chase against Australia.
Chris Gayle: The smashing West Indian has so far hit 21 tons in 258 matches. Gayle has 8810 runs at an average of 37, and a strike rate of 84. He has 46 fifties to his name, and 17 not outs. Gayle has a highest score of 153 not out.
Saeed Anwar: Pakistan’s elegant retired left-hander finished with 20 tons from 247 games. Anwar made 8824 runs at an average of 89 and a strike rate of 80. Anwar finished his career with 43 fifties and 19 not outs. His highest score was 194 against India, a record at that time.
--By A Cricket Analyst
