Virat Kohli (Source: AFP)
Virat Kohli’s remarkable consistency in ODI cricket reached another milestone after his match-winning 74 off 51 balls against New Zealand in the first ODI at Eden Park, Auckland. India chased a revised target of 143 in 22.4 overs under the DLS method to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Kohli walked in after Rohit Sharma fell for a duck in the opening over and anchored the chase with his 80th ODI half-century.
The performance lifted his ODI average in New Zealand from 49.66 to 51.53, making him the first batter to average at least 50 in all four SENA countries. However, one country remains an exception.
Which Is The Only Country Where Virat Kohli Averages Below 50?
Sri Lanka is the only country among the 10 countries he has batted in where Kohli has an ODI batting average below 50. He has played 29 ODI innings on Sri Lankan soil, scoring 1,086 runs at an average of 45.25.
Virat Kohli's record includes five centuries and two half-centuries, showing that he has produced several significant performances despite the relatively lower average.
One of his memorable knocks came during India’s 2012 tour of Sri Lanka. Kohli scored an unbeaten 128 off 119 deliveries in the fourth ODI at Colombo, guiding India to a six-wicket victory while chasing 252.
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He continued his impressive run in the country during the 2017 tour, scoring 131 off 96 balls in the fourth ODI at the R Premadasa Stadium. India posted 375/5 and registered a 168-run win.
Kohli also produced a century during the 2017 series, scoring 110 not out in the fifth ODI as India completed a 5-0 series whitewash.
His performances in Sri Lanka have therefore included several match-winning contributions, even though the country remains the only one on this list where his average has not crossed the 50-run mark.
Virat Kohli’s ODI Batting Average In Each Country
Kohli’s country-wise ODI numbers prove his consistency across different conditions. South Africa is where he has recorded his highest average, while Bangladesh and India are the other countries where he has averaged above 60.
His New Zealand average has now moved past the 50-run mark following the latest ODI performance.
| Country | ODI Batting Average |
| South Africa | 76.38 |
| Bangladesh | 73.13 |
| India | 62.81 |
| Zimbabwe | 60.83 |
| West Indies | 58.92 |
| UAE | 54.5 |
| New Zealand | 51.53 |
| England | 51.48 |
| Australia | 50.03 |
| Sri Lanka | 45.25 |
(ODI Average of Virat Kohli in each Country)
With his latest performance in Auckland, Kohli has achieved the distinction of averaging 50 or more in all four SENA countries. Sri Lanka remains the sole exception among the countries in which he has played ODI cricket, despite his five centuries there.
