Kohli vs Sachin: Statistical comparison of 49 centuries

In the realm of cricket records, Virat Kohli's name has become synonymous with excellence, and his latest feat brings him shoulder-to-shoulder (or better?) with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. 

Kohli's journey to equalling Tendulkar's record of the most One Day International (ODI) centuries has been nothing short of spectacular, taking only 15 years compared to Tendulkar's 22-year ODI career.

Kohli boasts an impressive century-scoring frequency, with a remarkable average of one century every 5.65 innings, surpassing Tendulkar's 9.22 innings. However, when considering the eras in which they played, this disparity diminishes, highlighting the evolution of the game.

A statistical breakdown reveals that Tendulkar scored a century every 9.22 matches, accumulating 49 centuries in 463 ODIs. On the other hand, Kohli's 49 centuries in 289 games translate to 5.65 matches per hundred. 

Notably, in the matches featuring these cricket maestros, Indian batters collectively notched up 131 centuries during Tendulkar's tenure, while Kohli's era witnessed 137.

Kohli's proficiency shines particularly in ODI chases, with 27 centuries, 23 of which resulted in victories. In comparison, Tendulkar scored 17 centuries while chasing, with 14 leading to victories. Tendulkar, however, holds the edge in scoring centuries while batting first, tallying 32 against Kohli's 22.

The increase in India's win percentage over the last 15 years has significantly impacted century outcomes. During Tendulkar's era, India won 50.54% of matches, while during Kohli's era, the win percentage surged to 61.59%. Consequently, 33 of Tendulkar's 49 centuries came in wins, while Kohli boasts an impressive 41 centuries in victorious matches.

Examining home-ground advantage, Tendulkar scored 20 centuries in India, whereas Kohli has 23 out of his 49 at home. The decline in ODI tournaments at neutral venues limited Kohli's exposure outside the first ten full-member countries.

The format of ODI matches also evolved during their careers, with Kohli playing about two-thirds of his matches in bilateral series, while Tendulkar's era saw 40% of matches played under similar conditions. Kohli has showcased his adaptability by scoring at least one ODI century in each of the nine countries he has played in.

Although Tendulkar played ODIs in 16 different countries, scoring hundreds in 12, the number of venues where they scored centuries remains similar. Tendulkar achieved centuries at 34 grounds, and Kohli replicated this feat at 32 venues.

Tendulkar's century-scoring palette was diverse, featuring hundreds against 11 different teams, including associate nations. In contrast, Kohli, with more limited exposure to associate nations, has scored all his 49 centuries against the top nine full-member countries.

Tendulkar's versatility is evident in his five or more centuries against six teams, with nine against Australia standing as his highest. Kohli, however, has set a new ODI record with ten centuries against Sri Lanka and has five or more against six different countries.

In terms of individual performances, Tendulkar notched up 32 centuries when he was the lone centurion, compared to Kohli's 22. Notably, Kohli had 13 instances when a teammate also scored a century, showcasing the team's overall batting strength.

Both cricketers faced challenging situations, with Tendulkar scoring nine centuries when no other Indian batsman managed a fifty. Kohli, on the other hand, replicated this feat eight times, with five of his nine coming in completed innings. The two greats are level on six centuries scored when India were bowled out.

As Virat Kohli continues to break and make records, this statistical comparison with Sachin Tendulkar needs more analysis as the evolution of the game has been significant over the years.

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