As the clock ticks down to March 9, Indian fans are on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating the Champions Trophy final. On this day, Team India will face off against New Zealand, and by nightfall, a new champion will be crowned. When Virat Kohli steps onto the field after the toss, he will surpass Yuvraj Singh in terms of the number of matches played for India. However, he will still trail several other Indian players in this regard.
A Tale of Two Cricketers: Yuvraj Singh and Virat Kohli
Yuvraj Singh and Virat Kohli have both donned the Indian jersey in 301 One-Day Internationals (ODIs). Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most ODIs played for India, with an impressive 463 matches under his belt. Yuvraj Singh, on the other hand, has played a total of 304 ODIs, with 301 of those being for India and three for other teams. Virat Kohli has also played 301 ODIs, and the upcoming Champions Trophy final will be his 302nd match. Notably, all of Kohli’s matches have been played for India.
Comparing the Stats: Yuvraj Singh and Virat Kohli
A closer look at the statistics of these two cricketers reveals a significant gap. Yuvraj Singh has scored 8609 runs in 301 ODIs, with 14 centuries to his name, and an average of 36.47. In contrast, Virat Kohli has amassed 14180 runs in 301 ODIs, with an impressive 51 centuries, and a remarkable average of 58.11. This puts Kohli significantly ahead of Yuvraj Singh in terms of batting prowess.
Virat Kohli’s Form in the Champions Trophy
Virat Kohli is currently in scintillating form, and fans are hoping he will continue this trend in the final against New Zealand. Although he scored a modest 22 runs against Bangladesh, he made a strong comeback with an unbeaten 100 against Pakistan. Despite being dismissed for just 11 runs against New Zealand, Kohli bounced back with a superb 84-run knock in the semifinal. This has raised expectations that he will deliver another impressive performance in the final. With his bat firing on all cylinders, Kohli is poised to lead India to victory and make the Champions Trophy his own.