Virat Kohli and Rohit and Virat for team India - (Source: AFP)
On Sunday, November 30, India will kickstart their three-match ODI series against South Africa, with Ranchi hosting the curtain-raiser game. The hosts are coming fresh off an embarrassing defeat in the Test series and would look to change the outcome in the fifty-over format.
The fans are happy with the return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who will again play under a new leader. Notably, during the Australia tour, the two talismans played under Shubman Gill’s leadership. However, the Indian captain is injured and battling a neck spasm, which has ruled him out of the ODI series.
With KL Rahul set to lead due to Gill’s injury, this article analyzes how Kohli and Sharma have performed in ODIs with Rahul as captain.
KL Rahul’s captaincy record
Criteria
Stats
Matches
12
Won
8
Lost
4
Tied
0
Win%
66.66
Rahul has previously led India in 12 ODIs and boasts a nice 66.66% win percentage. However, Virat has played just 4 ODIs under KL, whereas Rohit Sharma has never ever played under the leadership of Rahul and it will be the first time in the hitman's history that he will take instructions from KL Rahul.
Nonetheless, let's look at Virat Kohli's stats under KL Rahul's leadership.s
Virat Kohli's ODI record under KL Rahul
As mentioned earlier, Virat Kohli has played four games under KL Rahul's leadership and for the unversed, in the four matches, Virat has scored 229 runs, avearing a whopping 57.25. Further, the right-handed batter has scored a century and two fifty-plus scores, boasting a terrific record under KL Rahul's leadership.
Notably, Kohli's fourth best average has been under KL's captaincy and the right-handed batter would be excited to play under KL one more time.
Let's look at Kohli's detailed stats during KL's tenure as captain
Criteria
Stats
Matches
4
Runs
229
Average
57.25
Strike-rate
0
100/50
1/2
Highest Score
113
The fans can rejoice looking at Kohli's impressive stats as the threat of missing out on 2027 ODI World Cup still looms over the right-handed batter.
Interestingly, it was India's 2022 tour to South Africa when KL Rahul was leading the white-ball team and Virat played four games under him. However, it will be for the first time in history that Kohli will play under KL Rahul's captaincy in India. Thus, both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are set to script something new.
Although, on the other hand, KL has also led India in Virat's presence in Tests as well, where the chase master only averages 15 and has scored 45 runs in two Tests. Thus, the fans are equally worried for Virat because the Australia series didn't go as well as the RCB star would have hoped for.
Virat Kohli and Rohit and Virat for team India - (Source: AFP).jpg)
