Reliving Virat Kohli’s 2018

ODI Cricket

In ODI cricket in 2018, Virat Kohli redefined the art of batting in white-ball cricket. He simply just churned out hundreds and runs for fun. In 14 ODI innings, he amassed 1202 runs which includes six hundreds and three fifties. His average was beyond imagination.

He had five not-outs but there was not one occasion when Kohli failed and registered a single-digit score. In fact, his lowest score was 16 and that was the only time he was out under 30 in 2018. His ODI average of 2018 was a jaw-dropping 133.55 and moreover, he had a strike-rate of 102.55.

His 2018 started with the South Africa tour where he played six ODIs. He scored 558 runs at an average of 186.00 and he scored three tons and one fifty. The South Africa bowlers just couldn’t figure out how to dismiss the Indian captain.

In the three-match series in England, he didn’t score a hundred but was consistent as he got a couple of fifties and a 45. Then came the series against the Windies at home where he struck three back-to-back tons deflating the Windies bowling attack. He ended the series with 453 runs in 5 innings.

Asia Cup was the only 50-over assignment that the Indian skipper missed. Hence, with 1202 runs, Kohli ended 2018 as the highest run-getter. Rohit Sharma and Jonny Bairstow did notch up 1000 runs in the year as well but both of them played a lot more than the Indian captain did. In fact, Kohli reached the 1000-run mark in his 11th innings which is a record. Hence, he clinched the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year award as well.

Kohli in ODIs in 2018