An Oddsworth Opinion
The standard behind Kohli's 55th ODI hundred
The story
The Times of India highlights the milestones accompanying Virat Kohli's century against West Indies in India's eight-wicket victory. It presents the innings as evidence of his continuing ability to score quickly, with the hundred among the fastest of his ODI career.
The Times of India · 28 September at 01:30 BSTKohli's record-breaking night: 15,000 ODI runs, 55th century and moreRead the full storyThe Times of India celebrates Virat Kohli's hundred against West Indies as another landmark reached at speed. His sustained production deserves just as much attention: over the last two years in men's ODIs, he has averaged 73.38, against 32.64 for top-seven batters. That gives India a compelling reason to keep asking him to shape their innings.
Kohli's career average of 58.89 in men's ODIs provides another demanding benchmark for that recent form. He is exceeding the standard established across his own career, which strengthens the case for giving him an assertive role. India should treat this hundred as encouragement to ask more of his batting.
The pace behind the accumulation
The speed extends beyond Sunday's innings. Kohli's strike rate over the last two years in men's ODIs is 104.4, against 84.7 for top-seven batters. His career ODI strike rate is 94.2. India are getting quicker scoring alongside that exceptional recent average, which supports giving him responsibility for keeping an innings moving.
His 55th ODI century took 74 balls, making it the third-fastest of his ODI career. That career benchmark gives this hundred significance beyond the growing tally: even against his own long history of scoring centuries, its pace stands out.
Our ratings place Virat Kohli third among men's ODI batters worldwide, worth 7.12 runs a match more than an average player. We should expect him to influence matches as a leading batter on present merit.
What India should ask next
India's next assignment reinforces that expectation. Our ratings give India a 72% chance of beating an average men's ODI side; our forecast gives them an 86% chance against West Indies in the next ODI. This is a fixture in which India should expect their batting strength to tell.
Kohli's recent combination of scoring speed and average argues for an assertive brief within that stronger side. India should ask him to take the initiative from the top order, with the freedom his sustained output has earned.
Wednesday 30 September 2026, 2:00pm IST