Virat Kohli’s Unmatched Consistency: 5,870 Singles and Still Going Strong

Virat Kohli continues to solidify his reputation as one of the greatest ODI batters of all time, and his recent performance against Australia in the first semifinal of the Champions Trophy 2025 is a testament to his brilliance. On Tuesday, Kohli played a pivotal role in guiding India to a thrilling four-wicket victory, ensuring their place in the final on Sunday. His innings of 84 runs off 98 balls, the highest individual score in the match, earned him the Player-of-the-Match award and showcased his ability to thrive under pressure.

In the scorching heat of Dubai, Kohli displayed exceptional fitness and tactical acumen, hitting five boundaries and running 56 singles. Remarkably, 67% of his runs came from singles, highlighting his mastery of strike rotation and his enduring athleticism at the age of 36. This ability to keep the scoreboard ticking played a crucial role in preventing the Indian batting lineup from succumbing to pressure, even as the chase grew tense towards the end. KL Rahul sealed the victory with a six off the first ball of the 49th over.

A striking statistic revealed during the match further underscores Kohli’s dominance in ODI cricket . Since January 2000, Kohli has scored 5,780 singles, the highest by any batter in this format during this period. He surpasses Sri Lankan legends Kumar Sangakkara (5,503 singles) and Mahela Jayawardene (4,789 singles) on this list. This achievement reflects Kohli’s meticulous approach to building innings, even in an era where aggressive boundary-hitting has become the norm.

Speaking at the post-match presentation at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Kohli expressed his satisfaction with his performance. “I wasn’t feeling desperate; I was pretty happy knocking ones around. When you start taking pride in taking singles into the gaps, that’s when you know you’re playing good cricket. It helps build partnerships, settle nerves, and chase down the target. That was the most pleasing factor for me, both in the game against Pakistan and today,” he said.

Kohli’s ability to balance aggression with patience has been instrumental in India’s success in the Champions Trophy 2025, where they have now secured four consecutive wins. As the team prepares for the final, Kohli’s form and leadership will undoubtedly be key to their chances of lifting the trophy.