ODI cricket brings different challenges for the players as compared to the other two formats. The 50-over format has a mix of Tests and T20Is because the players also have to take time and then have to shift gears. There are a few difficult jobs in this format, and chasing is certainly the most difficult one. Whether the target is small or big, chasing is always difficult because you need to bat according to the situation.
That is why most of the big totals and scores are made in the first innings. But then, there are some players who love to perform when the pressure is on. Virat Kohli is also one of the players who loves this kind of situation. He showed a great example on Sunday when India were at 2/3, and he took the game deep and added an important partnership with KL Rahul to take India home.
However, over the years, not many chasers have performed consistently. In almost 50 years of ODI cricket, only two batters have scored more than 5000 ODI runs in successful run chases. So let’s check out those two players below.
2. Sachin Tendulkar – 5490 runs in 124 Innings
Sachin Tendulkar was the greatest batter of all time, as seen in the game. His longevity makes him better than other players. Scoring runs for 10–12 years has been done by a number of players, but scoring consistently for 24 years is just unimaginable. Sachin played 124 innings in successful run chases. He scored 5490 runs at 55.45 with a strike rate of 90.08 in those innings. Sachin also scored 14 hundreds and 31 half-centuries with a best of 134 in those matches.
1. Virat Kohli – 5517 runs in 92 Innings
There is a reason that Virat Kohli is known as the “chase master” in ODI cricket: he can adapt himself perfectly when the chase is on. That is why his numbers are just unbelievable when the team is under pressure in a chase. Virat has played 92 innings in successful ODI chases and scored 5517 runs at an incredible batting average of 88.98 and a strike rate of 97.13. He has also scored 22 hundred and 23 half-centuries in these games. That means that whenever India has won, chasing Virat has had a major contribution to it.
