Indian cricketer Virat Kohli has etched himself as one of the greatest batters in the history with his consistent run scoring and match-winning performances over the years. Making his international debut in 2008, Kohli has shattered many records in 16-year-old career so far.
Awestruck with his batting over the years, the fans came up with different names for Kohli which became a part of his identity. He is popular among fans with different nicknames such as Cheeku, King, Chase Master, run machine and many more.
The title of Run Machine is enough to tell the impact Kohli had on world cricket with his batting. There are many factors which justify his title of run machine. He has scored 26884 in 530 in his career across formats with 80 centuries. Here are some of the factors that tell why Virat Kohli is called a Run Machine.
Virat Kohli – The Run Machine
- Fitness and consistency
Virat Kohli has been one of the consistent performers over the years in his cricketing career. This also tells about his fitness and how he looks hungry to perform in every game he plays for India. His consistency can also be determined by the fact that he remained as the number one in ODIs for 1258 days from 2017 to 2021.
- Master of Chasing targets
Apart from the Run Machine, Virat Kohli is known as the Chase Master due to masterclass multiple times while chasing a target. Kohli has been a top performer many times when India chased a target successfully. He is known for anchoring the chase so well by keeping up with the required run rate and changing the gears when needed.
- Ability to convert good starts
Virat Kohli has 80 international centuries to his name across formats which defines his ability to convert a good start into a big knock. Kohli is a kind of a batter who keeps the scoreboard running with his regular running between the wickets, and then takes full advantage of every opportunity he gets to score a boundary. He can take the anchoring role whenever the team loses early wickets and can finish the innings on a high by staying till the end.
- Stepping up in big matches
Virat Kohli has proved himself to be a big match player on many occasions, especially during the major ICC tournament. Highest scorer in the final of 2013 Champions Trophy, 2014 T20 World Cup, semi-final of the 2016 T20 World Cup and the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup. A crucial 35(49) in the 2011 ODI World Cup final and a half-century in the 2023 ODI World Cup final. Half-centuries in the 2017 Champions Trophy Semi-final and 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final, Kohli has always raised his head high whenever India needed him on big occasions.
- 80 International Centuries
Virat Kohli has 80 international centuries to his name across all formats, which is just 20 centuries behind Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 centuries. He has already broken Sachin’s record of most ODI hundreds and is the first batter to reach the milestone of 50 centuries in ODI.