Most runs in a calendar year by Indian batsmen

#2 Virat Kohli - 2735 runs in 2018

Kohli scored 2735 runs in 2017 despite being rested for the Asia Cup

One can’t help but wonder if Virat Kohli would have broken the record for most runs by an Indian batsman or even any batsman in a calendar year in 2018 if he had played in the Asia Cup at least.

Kohli had a little over 2400 runs when he travelled to Australia for the ongoing tour but he was not able to amass enough runs to break the all-time record. Nevertheless, Kohli’s 2735 runs are the second highest by an Indian batsman in a year and also the fourth highest by any batsman.

The Indian captain scored 1202 runs in ODIs with a jaw-dropping average of 133.55, a strike rate of 102.55, six 100s and a highest score of 160 not out.

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#1 Virat Kohli - 2818 runs in 2017

Kohli broke Dravid's 18 years old record in 2017

Rahul Dravid’s record of 2626 runs in 1999 was broken after eighteen years in 2017 when Virat Kohli scored 2818 runs.

Kohli’s tally is the third highest by any player in a year. Only Kumar Sangakkara with 2868 runs in 2014 and Ricky Ponting with 2833 runs in 2005 have more runs in a calendar year. However, Kohli reached his tally in 52 innings while Sangakkara and Ponting took 57 and 58 innings respectively.

He scored 1460 of those runs in ODIs with an average of 76.84, a strike-rate of just under 100 and he scored six centuries that year.