Stats: Virat Kohli completes 10000 runs batting at number 3 in ODI cricket

India are playing against England in the three-match ODI series at MCA Stadium, Pune. In the first game of the series, the hosts registered a victory by 66 runs. England won the toss in the second consecutive match and decided to field first yet again. India made one change in their playing XI bringing in Rishabh Pant in place of injured Shreyas Iyer. England had a massive setback before the ODI as their captain Eoin Morgan was ruled out of the series.

In the second ODI, India lost their opener, Shikhar Dhawan, very early who got out after scoring 4 runs off 17 balls. Rohit Sharma too could not extend his innings long and fell after making 25 runs in 25 balls. Indian skipper Virat Kohli looked in good touch from the very start of his innings in the second ODI game.

Yet another record for Virat Kohli

During this innings, the Indian captain completed his 10000 runs in the 50-over format while batting at number 3. He reached this landmark in the 190th innings at this position. He is only the second player after Ricky Ponting to achieve the feat. The former Aussie captain batted at number 3 most times during his career and scored 12662 runs at an average of 42.48. This included 29 centuries and 74 half-centuries.

Virat Kohli has so far hit 36 ODI tons while batting at number 3 and has an impressive average of above 62 at this spot. The other 7 ODI centuries of the Indian skipper have come at positions lower than number 3. He started his ODI career as an opener in the debut series against Sri Lanka. Kohli later batted at either number 4 or 7 in the next few innings after this series.

Since 2012, the 32-year-old has been batting at the number 3 regularly in ODIs barring few instances. He featured at fourth spot in most of the matches during India’s successful campaign in World Cup 2011.

After Virat Kohli and Ponting, the former Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara is at the third spot in terms of runs scored at number 3. Sangakkara amassed 9747 runs at an average of 44.71 in 238 innings. He is followed by Jacques Kallis (7774) and Kane Williamson (5421).

Players to score most runs at number 3 in ODIs