Virat Kohli sets world record for most 50+ scores against SENA nations across formats

Virat Kohli (Source: BCCI)

Virat Kohli becomes the highest scorer of fifty-plus scores against SENA nations, South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia, across all formats of international cricket. Kohli’s tally now stands at 134 with Sachin Tendulkar scored 133 during his career.

Kohli’s 134 fifty-plus scores against SENA nations are made up of 45 centuries and 89 fifties, compiled across 320 matches. Tendulkar’s tally of 133 came from 50 centuries and 83 fifties in 328 matches. Behind them, West Indies legend Brian Lara is the next-highest with 100 fifty-plus scores against SENA nations. Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara follows with 97, while Australia’s Ricky Ponting rounds out the top four with 91 such scores.

How does Kohli’s record stand across each SENA country in ODIs?

One of the more striking aspects of Kohli’s record against SENA nations is his consistency across all four countries in ODI cricket. He is the only batter in history to average above 50 against each of the four SENA nations in ODIs, a distinction that underlines the breadth of his achievement rather than dominance against just one or two opponents.

His ODI average against Australia stands at 50.03, while against New Zealand it is 51.53. Against England, Kohli averages 51.48 in ODIs, and against South Africa his average climbs to 76.38. No other batter has cleared the 50-mark against all four of these nations in the format.

Across all formats against New Zealand alone, Kohli has accumulated 3,241 runs. A recent fifty against New Zealand was his 80th ODI fifty overall and his 11th against that opposition, adding further weight to an already substantial record against the Kiwis.

Which Player of the Series awards has Kohli won against SENA nations?

Beyond the runs and milestones, Kohli has also collected Player of the Series awards against three of the four SENA nations. He has won the honour in series against Australia, England and South Africa, making him one of the most decorated performers in bilateral contests against top-ranked opposition.

The one SENA nation against which Kohli is yet to win a Player of the Series award is New Zealand. That remains an unfinished item on an otherwise comprehensive record against the four nations traditionally regarded as the strongest in world cricket.

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