‘Who needs Superman’: Sunil Gavaskar erupts in praise as Virat Kohli surpasses Sachin Tendulkar yet again

Sunil Gavaskar all praise for Virat Kohli after back to back tons. (Photo: BCCI)

What is the connection between ODIs and Virat Kohli? Numerous attempts have been made to understand the divine connection, yet none may have done it justice. There are literary proofs that Kohli can hit ODI century even in his sleep. It may be literal in his instance.

A man spends most of his time abroad with his family and doesn't play any other format, but he shows up in an ODI and makes hundreds for fun. Virat Kohli's love affair with one-day cricket, which many say is struggling for life, sandwiched between T20Is and Tests, should remain one of the game's unanswered mysteries.

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After scoring his 52nd ODI century in the series opener in Ranchi, Kohli returned to his favourite format just two nights later — this time in one of India’s newest states and newest stadiums — and, unsurprisingly, brought up his 53rd ODI hundred.

Without trying to hide his excitement, the legendary Sunil Gavaskar asked on commentary, "Who needs Superman when you have Virat Kohli?" And why should he? After all, Kohli once again shattered many records, the primary one being another Sachin Tendulkar world record.

Batting at No. 3, it was Kohli's 46th ODI century, which is now the most by any batsman in a certain batting position. In the past, Kohli and Tendulkar shared the record. The latter batted at the top of the order and amassed 45 ODI hundreds.

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Kohli now has 11 separate streaks of scoring hundreds in two or more consecutive ODI innings — nearly double the next best, AB de Villiers, who has six. He also has seven or more ODI centuries against four different teams: 10 versus Sri Lanka, 9 against the West Indies, 8 against Australia and 7 against South Africa. Sachin Tendulkar is the only other batter to achieve the feat across multiple opponents, with 9 centuries against Australia and 8 against Sri Lanka.

In the record for the most centuries in India vs South Africa ODIs, Kohli left behind Quinton de Kock and AB de Villiers.

Kohli hit 102 off 93 balls before being caught at long on. In his inning, which was mostly composed of singles and twos, he hit seven fours and two sixes. "I repeatedly say this, attacking batting is not just about boundaries and sixes. Look at how Kohli takes the ones and twos and never allows the bowler to settle," Gavaskar said.