Kohli first batsman to average 50+ in all formats

GALLE : Virat Kohli is already motoring towards establishing himself as a modern batting great. The Indian skipper earned another distinction with his display in the crushing win over Sri Lanka in the Galle Test.

The 28-year-old Delhi batsman struck an unbeaten 103, becoming the first batsman to average over 50 in all three formats of the game.

Kohli’s 17th Test century in the second innings helped India wrap up the Galle match in four days. A career average of 50 is considered the hallmark of a great Test batsman.

Kohli now averages 50.03 in 58 Tests, in which he has accumulated 4,603 runs with 17 centuries. In One-Day Internationals, the master of chasing targets averages 54.68, with 28 centuries and 43 fifties in 189 matches.

In Twenty20 Internationals too, Kohli has been a picture of consistency, averaging 52.96 with an aggregate of 1,748 runs and 16 fifties.

Kohli’s latest achievement puts him ahead of his great contemporaries Joe Root (England), Kane Williamson (New Zealand), Steve Smith (Australia) – the trio has 50-plus averages only in Tests – and AB de Villiers (South Africa), who tops 50 only in Tests and ODIs.

Kohli didn’t have a Test double century until he rectified that by scoring 200 in the first Test at Antigua on the 2016 West Indies tour, becoming the first Indian captain to achieve the feat overseas.

Kohli went on to score three more double tons — 211 versus New Zealand at Indore, 235 versus England at Mumbai and 204 versus Bangladesh at Hyderabad.

His four centuries as captain puts him on a par with Don Bradman, Michael Clarke and Graeme Smith. Brian Lara heads the list with five double centuries.