Virat Kohli is set to play his 300th ODI on Sunday, which will mark another significant milestone in his illustrious career after silencing doubts over his form and future with a match-winning century in the Champions Trophy.
India will face New Zealand in their final group match in Dubai, with both teams already qualified for the semi-finals of the 50-over tournament. Kohli, who has earned the nickname "King Kohli" for his prolific run-scoring, faced intense speculation over his future after a prolonged lean patch.
There were even whispers about his possible retirement alongside skipper Rohit Sharma, who had already retired from T20 internationals.
However, Kohli silenced his critics with an unbeaten 100 against arch-rivals Pakistan, a knock that played a crucial role in India’s victory and their progression to the semi-finals.
The century, his first in ODIs since November 2023, was a testament to his skill and resilience, as he took his time before dominating the opposition bowlers.
Kohli's teammate, KL Rahul, praised the veteran batsman’s contribution and emphasised that he still had much to offer.
Rahul expressed his admiration for Kohli’s achievement, saying: "That (300) is a lot of ODI games and a lot of international games and he's been... I mean words fall short to express how good a player he's been and what a great servant of Indian cricket he's been.
Really happy to see that he got the 100 last game as well and he's been batting really well."
Rahul also mentioned how Kohli and Rohit are looked up to as senior players, always expected to step up when the big games arrive.
Kohli went past 14,000 ODI runs early in his innings against Pakistan, becoming only the third batsman in history to achieve this milestone, joining the ranks of Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara.
The century was his 51st in ODIs, achieved in 299 matches since his debut in 2008. Kohli also holds 82 international hundreds across all formats.
Kohli becomes the 22nd player in history and the seventh Indian to reach the 300 ODI mark.
New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell, who has played alongside Kohli in the Indian Premier League, praised Kohli's longevity.
"I think that's obviously a massive achievement," said Bracewell. "Three hundred games across a career is very impressive and then to put that in just one format is amazing. I think it's a testament to the way that he's gone about his career."
Kohli's journey has been filled with highs and lows. He helped India win the 2011 ODI World Cup under MS Dhoni's leadership before taking over as captain.
Despite his success, including leading India to the top of the Test rankings, he was unable to deliver a global title in his tenure as captain.
The ensuing drought in global victories, combined with a dip in his form, led to Kohli stepping down from the role of ODI captain.
Kohli’s struggles with his mental health during his lean phase were well-documented, but his resolve never faltered.
Despite controversies on and off the field, Kohli remains a hero to millions of Indian fans.
His passion and commitment to the game have earned him unwavering support, with supporters often invading the pitch to take selfies and touch his feet.
