Semi-final puts focus on Kohli's surprising record

Make no mistake; Virat Kohli is a batting master.

Still aged just 30, the Indian skipper already has more than 11,000 ODI runs to his name, a barely-believable 41 centuries and could already lay claim to being the greatest one-day batsman the world has ever seen.

Which simply makes his career record in ODI knockout games all the more puzzling.

India’s World Cup semi-final against New Zealand tonight has brought back into focus the one low in Kohli's otherwise outstanding ODI statistics, a surprisingly below-average record in one-day elimination matches.

In 14 quarter-finals, semi-finals or finals that Kohli has played in his career, he averages 31.36, almost half his career average of 59.70.

An average in the low-30s is hardly a failure for most players, but Kohli’s incredible career to date means he’s measured by a higher standard than others.

And while it’d be no great concern for him given it’s a small sample ahead of his 236th career game tonight, he’ll no doubt be hoping to rectify it against the Kiwis tonight and – all going well – in the final at Lord’s on Sunday.

Given Kohli – sometimes unfairly - has often been measured alongside his former teammate Sachin Tendulkar, the Little Master’s record in knockout games is an interesting comparison. Tendulkar, who averaged 44.83 in a 463-match ODI career, increased that average to 52.84 from 52 knockout matches.

Three-time World Cup winner Ricky Ponting’s record in knockout games (average 39.76) mirrored his career record (average 42.03), although two of his four centuries in elimination games – including his memorable 140 not out in the 2003 World Cup final – came in tournament deciders.

It’s also worth noting that Kohli's failures with the bat in knockout games do not always result in a loss. Of Kohli’s 14 elimination matches, India have won nine – including the 2011 World Cup final – and lost five.

And based on his tournament so far, Kohli is well overdue to add to his 41 ODI centuries.

With an impressive 50 to 100 conversion rate heading into the tournament of 41 hundreds and 49 fifties, Kohli has posted a half-century five times in eight matches but hasn’t been able to turn any of them into three-figure scores.

Meanwhile, star opener Rohit Sharma has plundered five centuries in eight games, the most ever in a single World Cup.

“It's been a different kind of role that I've had to play in this World Cup and, as the captain of the team, I have been open to playing any kind of role that the team wants me to,” Kohli said on Monday.

“It's great that Rohit is scoring so consistently, which means that coming in the later half of the innings, you have to play a different role.

“I have understood that roles can vary a lot in one-day cricket, depending on the time you step into bat, and I have been very happy with holding one end and letting (other) guys express themselves.

“Personal milestones, honestly, is something that no-one ever focuses on. Rohit said the same thing the other day. He is only trying to do the best for the team and in that process special things happen.”