Former India opener Sadagoppan Ramesh recently made a subtle jab at Sanjay Manjrekar for his comments on ODI cricket being the easiest format for top-order batters. While Manjrekar didn’t mention any names, many believed it was aimed at players like Virat Kohli, who holds numerous records in the format.
Kohli, the leading run-scorer in ODIs with 14,650 runs and 53 centuries to his name, once again showcased his brilliance in India’s recent ODI series opener against New Zealand, scoring a fluent 93 off 91 balls. Ramesh, speaking on his YouTube channel, defended Kohli’s achievements in ODIs, stating that the format looks easy because of how effortlessly Kohli performs.
The former cricketer highlighted Kohli’s remarkable consistency, averaging 93 since the Champions Trophy last year. Ramesh compared Kohli’s dominance in ODIs to an elephant lifting a tree, emphasizing that not everyone can replicate his success in the format.
With an outstanding ODI average of over 58 and a strike rate of 93.70 in 309 matches, Kohli’s numbers speak volumes about his excellence in the format. Ramesh commended Kohli’s ability to handle immense pressure and expectations, especially at his age of 37, where he continues to churn out remarkable performances consistently.
Ramesh acknowledged the challenges of being a player of Kohli’s stature, where successes are taken for granted, but failures attract widespread criticism. Despite the pressure, Kohli has managed to maintain a streak of five consecutive 50+ scores in ODIs, showcasing his mental strength and determination.
In conclusion, Ramesh likened Kohli to an ocean, where even if he falls short of reaching 100 international centuries, his contributions to Indian cricket deserve a perfect score. Kohli, currently on 84 international centuries, is 16 centuries away from surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 centuries.
The discussion between Ramesh and Manjrekar sheds light on the complexities and challenges faced by top-order batters like Kohli in excelling in the ODI format. As the debate continues, it’s evident that Kohli’s impact and legacy in ODI cricket will be remembered for years to come.
