Before them, Sanath Jayasuriya and Adam Gilchrist clouted the ball with regular destruction while Viv Richards had the most beguiling mix of swagger, courage and skill to destroy any attack.
Most modern cricketers like David Warner and Kieron Pollard crush the ball although ramp shots, reverse sweeps and Steven Smith's audacious flick to the leg-side fence from well wide of the popping crease bring more timing than power.
Kohli manages the odd tennis smash shot and hockey slap to combat the varying heights bowlers use to try and mystify the master craftsman.
However he manages to look unflustered and unhurried as he adds the caress of purist timing to the most abbreviated and frenetic form of international cricket.
There's a bead of sweat and animated reactions when the ball soars away from the middle of his bat but little else is out of place. When he leaves a ground after a great innings as he did today, he looks like he's walking out to bat.
He carries the sort of elegance Barry Richards, Martin Crowe, Kumar Sangakarra and Greg Chappell brought to the crease.
It's the result of hours of practice to find the timing and posture which sends the ball away much faster than it arrived or the placement and ambition to send slower bowlers to different areas of the park.
They all did it with such style and Kohli is definitely nudging them for that sort of modern grace.
