Like King, Like Queen: Virat Kohli And Smriti Mandhana Make ODI Cricket Their Kingdom

Smriti Mandhana following Virat Kohli's pursuit in ODI cricket [Source: @Shebas_10dulkar/X.com]

Sachin Tendulkar, the God of Cricket, once put India on the ODI world map and ruled the 50-over format for what felt like forever. However, in modern-day India, the 50-over leagues belong to only two individuals, Virat Kohli and Smriti Mandhana.

Virat Kohli is the run machine of men's cricket, and Smriti Mandhana is the elegant left-hander who is becoming the face of women's cricket. They are a mirror image of India's unparalleled dominance in the ODI format, with almost identical records that mirror their consistency, hunger, and ability to perform when it matters the most.

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Virat Kohli: The Chase Master

(Table: Virat Kohli's ODI records for India)

Since his debut in 2008, Virat Kohli has played over 300 ODI matches for India. He has made 14,181 runs at a batting average of approximately 57.88. He has scored 51 ODI centuries and 74 half-centuries and a top score of 183.

What differentiates Kohli is the fact that he can hunt down large totals, which has gotten him the nickname “Chase Master”. From being the quickest to reach milestones like 8,000 to 14,000 ODI runs to his relentless fitness and brilliant fielding, Kohli has set standards that seem almost untouchable.

He is not merely a run-scorer; he's a template for a whole generation. Put simply, Kohli has not only re-written India's cricketing history but also set benchmarks that might never be broken, and thus is perhaps the best ODI batsman of his generation.

Smriti Mandhana: The Face Of Indian Women's Cricket

(Table: Smriti Mandhana's ODI records)

If Kohli is the undisputed king of men’s ODIs, then Smriti Mandhana is turning out to be the queen of Indian women's ODIs. In the last few years, she has turned promise into dominance, consistently breaking barriers and matching some of Kohli’s legendary feats in the women’s game.

Take her innings against Australia in Delhi: chasing 413, India were under massive pressure, but Mandhana smashed a sensational 125 off 63 balls, including 17 fours and five sixes. She reached her century in just 50 balls, breaking Kohli’s long-standing record of the fastest ODI hundred by an Indian.

Mandhana’s rapid rise has been nothing short of phenomenal. Whether it's exploding against world champions Australia with quick hundreds or stabilising run-chases under pressure, she has shown maturity way above her years.

Mirror Images of Greatness

What is intriguing about this tale is not merely the personal greatness of Virat Kohli and Smriti Mandhana, but how their records nearly reflect mirror images of one another. Both are brilliant in run-chases, both share the record for the quickest century for India in ODIs, and both are consistent series after series.

For the Indian public, this comparison is symbolic: just as Kohli bore the flag for men's cricket during the 2010s and onwards, Mandhana is leading women's cricket on to ever greater heights with her breathtaking batting displays.

A Legacy Beyond Numbers

The numbers are staggering, but their impact is even larger. Kohli has made a whole generation of cricketers think that they can also pursue impossible scores, and Mandhana has made young girls from across India think that they too can dream big and dominate world cricket.

Together, Virat Kohli and Smriti Mandhana are not just record-holders; they are trailblazers who have redefined excellence in Indian cricket. And if their current form is anything to judge by, the record books will have plenty of room for many more to follow.

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