King Kohli heats up Kiwi summer
India’s talismanic captain leads them into ODI battle against ‘King Kane’ and the Black Caps from Wednesday. Aaron Goile analyses Kohli’s glittering career so far.
Cricket’s biggest rock star is primed to belt out some hits on a stage near you. Virat Kohli, the pre-eminent batsman of the modern time and who’s destined to go down as one of the all-time greats of the sport, is bringing superstardom to the Kiwi summer.
The exuberant captain of India, a god-like figure to more than a billion people, touched down with his troops in New Zealand yesterday, as a muchanticipated ODI and Twenty20 series against the Black Caps draws close.
On Wednesday afternoon at Napier’s McLean Park that wait is finally over, when the first of five ODIs get underway.
After dispatching Sri Lanka, the Black Caps, at No. 3 in the world rankings, welcome the second-ranked Indians in a tantalising match-up cricket fans in this country have had eyes firmly set on, leading into a World Cup just over four months away.
India may be behind England in the ICC rankings, but in the unofficial world pecking order they are the undisputed emperors – their sheer weight of numbers and love of the game equating to financial power and the dictating of many terms.
That’s then backed up by their on-field stars, and none come bigger than Kohli.
Former captain M S Dhoni remains in the team, but in the twilight of his career the brightest spotlight has now well and truly shifted places to the 30-year-old Kohli – the No. 1ranked test and ODI batsman in the world.
Not only wondrous on the eye, the glorious right-hander has a backbone of steel, is a consistent match-winner, owns a rightful swagger and has a competitive drive for the ages.
Then there’s his marriage to Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma – in a private ceremony in Italy just over a year ago – which only enhances his attractiveness to the Indian tabloids, and serves as perfect fodder for the modern-day social media environment.
Even if he’s not doing anything remotely interesting at training, the agencies’ photographers will still produce pic after pic. Kohli is always the news.
His looming head-to-head with Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson will be a fascinating duel – King Kohli versus King Kane.
It’s two of the world’s ‘‘big four’’ batsmen (Joe Root and the currently suspended Steve Smith are considered the others) and respective leaders of their nations, yet two quite conflicting figures.
There you have Williamson – the unflappable, unassuming dissector of a bowling attack, who in celebrating a century will give the slightest of bat raises – up against Kohli, the demonstrative alpha-male, not short of a sharp word in the heat of battle, and who’s prone to a few wild gesticulations when ‘‘tonning up’’.
And he’s had plenty of practice in raising the bat. No-one probably ever believed Sachin Tendulkar’s records could be surpassed in any form of the game, but Kohli is steaming down that track.
His test numbers aren’t half bad, averaging over 50, with more hundreds than half-centuries and fresh off leading India to a firstever series win in Australia, and even his T20 record (average 49.25, strike rate 136.11) is great – but it’s his ODI numbers which are staggering.
From 219 matches, Kohli has scored 10,385 runs at the phenomenal average of 59.68, notching 48 half centuries and 39 hundreds.
He sits 11th all-time on the ODI run-scoring chart (the highestperched current-day player), which is headed by Tendulkar’s 18,426 from a whopping 463 games.
Kohli’s average is bettered only by the quirk that Netherlands all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate had 67.00 from 33 matches before retiring from the 50-over form.
It’s in the hundreds column where Kohli has made even more of an impact. Tendulkar made 49 tons, from more than double the amount of games. The next best is Australian great Ricky Ponting, with 30.
And while some players wilt with added expectation, it’s with the extra pressure that Kohli in fact thrives. In run chases his average is 68.75 (with 24 tons) and as captain it’s 85.23.
While he’s technically sound and got all the shots – possessing quick hands and the ability to play the ball late – it’s not all boundary bullets, with Kohli’s placement and nous seeing him tick singles and dash for twos.
That zip between the wickets is a credit to his extreme fitness, which is something he has driven hard in the team since taking the reins in 2013.
As an 18-year-old, he channelled heartbreak into determination.
A month into his first-class career, Kohli played the day after his father died from a stroke. He went on to make 90 for Delhi against Karnataka, before heading directly to the funeral once he was dismissed.
‘‘The way I approached the game changed that day. I just had one thing in my mind – that I have to play for my country and live that dream for my Dad.’’
He couldn’t be doing it in any more extraordinary fashion.