Virat Kohli, the Indian cricket icon, has been unveiled as the most searched cricketer in the 25-year history of Google, reflecting his global popularity. Regarded as one of cricket’s all-time greats, Kohli’s exceptional fitness and ongoing success suggest he may continue to break records for years to come. With a debut in 2008, Kohli has amassed 26,532 runs in 518 international matches, boasting an impressive average of 54.36 and a strike rate of 79.41, including 80 centuries and 138 half-centuries. His recent outstanding performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 earned him the Player of the Tournament award, with 765 runs in 11 matches at an average of 95.62 and a strike rate of 90.32.
In the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, Virat Kohli not only showcased his exceptional form but also achieved a significant milestone by surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most centuries in One Day Internationals (ODIs). With an impressive total of 50 ODI centuries, Kohli’s achievement solidifies his status as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of the format.
Tech giant Google commemorated this remarkable accomplishment by featuring Virat Kohli in a video released on December 11. The video highlighted the most searched topics over Google’s 25-year history, underscoring Kohli’s widespread popularity and the immense interest in his cricketing journey.
Virat Kohli is set to make his return to international cricket during the India tour of South Africa 2023-24, which comprises a three-match T20I series, a three-match ODI series, and a two-match Test series. The highly anticipated Test series will feature two matches, with the first Test scheduled to commence on December 26 in Centurion, followed by the second and final Test starting from January 3 in Cape Town.
While Kohli, along with captain Rohit Sharma, opted for a rest during the white-ball leg of the South Africa tour, both players will be back in action for the Test series. The Indian squad for the Tests includes a mix of experienced players and promising talents, with Rohit Sharma leading the team. The squad features players such as Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Mohd. Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Prasidh Krishna.
