Virat Kohli shows he's one of the best ever

Virat Kohli is quickly on course to become one of the greatest to ever play the game. Photo / Photosport

Virat Kohli's statistics from his unbeaten 154 against New Zealand today reinforce his place as one of the most dominant ODI batsmen there has been.

His century was his 26th in ODI cricket. Only three batsmen have scored more and all in far more innings than Kohli's 166.

The great Sachin Tendulkar stands supreme with 49 ODI centuries. He took 247 innings to reach his 26th. Australian Ricky Ponting (30 centuries) needed 286 and Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya (28) 402.

Kohli's average, 52.9 at a strike rate of 90.49, is eight run an innings higher than Tendulkar's average.

Fourteen of Kohli's hundreds have come in successful run chases, equal to the mark of Tendulkar.

In India's seven-wicket win at Mohali today, he scored 54 of his runs off 33 deliveries from left armer Trent Boult, a strike rate of 164. Boult's figures, none for 73, were his poorest in ODIs.

Only one New Zealand bowler, Chris Drum, has conceded more runs in an ODI in India, 85 in Hyderabad in 1999.

''I didn't think we bowled that badly," New Zealand allrounder Jimmy Neesham said.

''I thought the way Virat and MS (Dhoni) batted was outstanding. When you're dealing with two of the best chasers in the game, you need things to go your way.

''A couple of things didn't but we kept trying.

''If we had managed to get a wicket somewhere between the 40th and 45 over we would have been right in the game. But the way Virat batted took the game away from us in the end."