Virat Kohli continues to demonstrate sublime form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, using the tournament as a stage to sharpen his credentials ahead of the upcoming ODI World Cup. Following a scintillating century in the previous match, Kohli carried his momentum into the second fixture, scoring a well-crafted fifty.
In Bengaluru, against Gujarat, the Delhi star delivered another attacking innings, breaking yet another world record in the process. Kohli amassed 77 runs off just 61 deliveries, including 13 fours and a six, helping his side post a commanding total of 254 for 9. His all-round performance was instrumental as Gujarat were subsequently bowled out for 247, with Kohli taking two catches and earning the Player of the Match accolade.
This innings saw Kohli surpass a significant milestone in List A cricket. By scoring over seventy in this match, he achieved the highest batting average among players with at least 5,000 List A runs, overtaking the long-standing record held by Michael Bevan. Bevan had maintained a career average of 57.86, while Kohli now leads with an average of 57.87.
The top five List A batting averages of players with over 5,000 runs are as follows:
| Rank | Player | Country | Batting Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | India | 57.87 |
| 2 | Michael Bevan | Australia | 57.86 |
| 3 | Sam Hain | England | 57.76 |
| 4 | Cheteshwar Pujara | India | 57.01 |
| 5 | Ruturaj Gaikwad | India | 56.68 |
| 6 | Babar Azam | Pakistan | 53.82 |
| 7 | AB de Villiers | South Africa | 53.46 |
Kohli has also been in stellar form after returning to the Vijay Hazare Trophy after 15 years, having scored a brilliant 131 against Andhra Pradesh. Furthermore, he established a record as the fastest batsman to reach 16,000 List A runs, achieving the feat in just 330 innings. By comparison, the legendary Sachin Tendulkar took 391 innings to reach the same milestone.
Kohli’s remarkable consistency and aggressive approach continue to cement his status as one of the finest batsmen in modern cricket. With the ODI World Cup on the horizon, this record-breaking form underscores his intent and readiness to lead India from the front.