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You know what has been my highlight of the IPL thus far? Watching Virat Kohli eviscerate the Sunrisers during his match-winning 93 from 47 balls.
His brutal knock will deservedly be remembered as a Twenty20 tour de force. So, this is not a left field selection intended to shock.
Kohli’s heroics were more important than merely thrashing his side to victory in a match that will probably be forgotten in a few months.
Sure, the innings needs to be in the context of the whirlwind T20 format, but while watching Kohli’s ferocity continually endanger spectators, an intriguing question with broader ramifications overcame me.
Could Virat Kohli become the first cricketer to be regarded as the best batsman of all three formats?
T20 cricket became a global sensation past the peaks of the modern batting greats – Lara, Tendulkar and Ponting. Jacques Kallis has never mastered T20 as he has cricket’s longer versions.
Chris Gayle is undeniably T20’s trailblazer, and an all-round dynamo in the coloured clothing.
But in the whites his batsmanship has been erratic, with a Test average in the early 40s despite two rampant triple tons (*cut to disgruntled West Indian fans sighing).
Hashim Amla tops Tests and ODI rankings but is unlikely to ever achieve similar success in T20.
Shane Watson has profited merrily in the shorter formats but has had a frustratingly inconsistent Test career (*cut to Australian fans fervently nodding).
Back to Kohli. I generally disregard ICC rankings, but using it as a credible guide of universal comparison, then Kohli currently ranks third in ODIs, eighth in T20s and 24th in Tests.
In 50-over cricket, Kohli could already be considered its best bat, with an average of 49, strike rate of 86 and a stunning conversion of 13 centuries in just 95 innings.
Basically, he chalks a ton every seven hits. For perspective, Lara averaged an ODI ton every 15 innings (19 from 289).
And it’s easy to envisage the Indian conquering the T20 charts, with an international average of 35 with a strike rate of 130.
Combining average and strike rate, 160 is regarded as the definition of T20 elite. Expect Kohli to far exceed this barometer of greatness.
But 24th is the turd in the punchbowl. This shouldn’t surprise. At 24 years of age and with only two years of Test experience, Kohli is probably five years off his pomp.
The rigour of five-day cricket overwhelms the inexperienced. Years of toil, while conquering torment, hardens the Test soul.
Maturity of mind and technique, while mastering foreign terrains, will be part of Kohli’s journey.
Kohli showcased his mettle during an exquisite maiden century in Adelaide during India’s forlorn Australian 2011-12 tour.
But his brief career in the whites has been riddled with inconsistencies, highlighted in the recent Australian tour of India, where he started with a century yet only reached fifty once for the remainder of the series.
India has a bevy of precocious bats – Dhawan, Pujara and Vijay – but it is Kohli who will receive the burden of Tendulkar’s baton of fulfilling the expectations and dreams for one billion people.
Despite the natural comparisons with Tendulkar, Kohli has more parallels with Ponting.
Both aggressively dominate with self-confidence. Both are prone to bouts of petulance, yet have intrinsic leadership qualities. Both had Test struggles early and were shifted around in the batting line-up.
Even their Test statistics at a similar career arc are eerily similar.
After 18 Tests: Kohli – 41.96 average, four 100s, six 50s
Ponting – 41.85 average, one 100, four 50s
In other words, doesn’t it feel like we’re witnessing the blossoming of cricket’s inevitable best batsman of this decade?
Isn’t there every possibility that Kohli emulates Ponting in dominating a decade?
Welcome, the Virat Kohli era.
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