Virat ‘Run Machine’ Kohli gets fifth fifty-plus score in five straight ODI innings

Virat Kohli continues his golden run, scoring his fifth consecutive fifty-plus in ODIs, reaffirming his status as the modern-day Run Machine.

Virat Kohli’s run-scoring in the ODI format has been nothing short of sensational, especially in the last few games. Just a couple of months ago, during the Australia series, his place in the side came under scrutiny after he endured two successive ducks. Adding to the intrigue was the fact that he had retired from both T20Is and Tests in the same year.

Given that he now plays only ODIs for India, which are themselves scheduled sporadically, questions were raised about his form heading into the ICC World Cup 2027. However, Kohli, as he has done throughout his long and storied career, silenced his critics in style with the bat. In the third ODI at the SCG, Kohli, along with Rohit Sharma, steered India to a consolation win with an unbeaten 74.

What followed was vintage Kohli. He amassed 302 runs in the three-match ODI series at home, registering three successive 50+ scores against South Africa. The right-hander then featured in a couple of matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 131 and 77 in his two innings. He extended his rich vein of form into the opening match of the New Zealand series with a match-winning 93 in Vadodara. This made it five successive fifty-plus scores in five consecutive innings: a level of consistency that only reinforces why he is called the “Run Machine.”

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What’s working for Virat Kohli?
Given that he is no longer playing the other two formats, Virat Kohli appears to have a clear understanding of how to approach the game. A closer look at each of these five innings shows that he has looked to dominate from the word go. This suggests he is unburdened by the fear of failure and is genuinely enjoying his cricket. Having achieved almost everything the game has to offer, he has nothing left to prove, and that has allowed him to play with clarity and freedom.

In the post-match presentation after the Vadodara game, in which he was adjudged the Player of the Match for his 93, Kohli said, “If I am being brutally honest, the way I’m playing right now, I’m not thinking about milestones at all. If we were batting first, I probably would’ve gone harder. But in a chase, with a total on the board, I had to play the situation. I felt like hitting more boundaries, but experience kicks in. The only thing on my mind was getting the team into a position where we could win comfortably.”

His mindset is clearly reflected in his batting, with no sense of desperation in his approach to the game. He is focused on staying relevant and, at no point, gives the impression of being close to retirement. On the contrary, he is showing signs of hitting a peak once again in his career. He can draw inspiration from legends of other sports, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Novak Djokovic, who continue to perform at the highest level well into the later stages of their careers.

One of the key reasons Kohli is able to sustain this level is his fitness. Even now, he is arguably the fittest cricketer in India, with his intensity and athleticism remaining undiminished. That passion was evident after his dismissal for a well-made 93 in Vadodara. He looked visibly dissatisfied, keen to finish the game for his team, as he has done so many times before.

At this stage of his career, Kohli appears to be driven by a clear and singular purpose: contributing meaningfully to India’s pursuit of another World Cup. If he continues to combine this physical sharpness with the clarity and freedom evident in his recent ODI batting, India will have every reason to feel confident about his role in the days leading up to the tournament.

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