3 centuries, 6 half-centuries in 11 matches - Virat Kohli named Player of the Tournament in World Cup 2023

Virat Kohli has been named the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 Player of the Tournament. Kohli's exceptional batting skills were the highlight of the tournament, with India's star batter amassing a record-breaking 765 runs in 11 matches.

He also surpassed the previous record set by Sachin Tendulkar in the 2003 tournament. Throughout the tournament, Kohli showcased his brilliance with an average of 95.62 and a strike rate of 90.31. He also scored three centuries, one against Bangladesh and South Africa in the league stage, and another against New Zealand in the semi-finals.

This outstanding achievement took Kohli's overall tally of One Day International hundreds to 50, making him the leading century-maker in the history of the format. The defining moment of Kohli's tournament came when he broke Tendulkar's long-standing record at the Wankhede Stadium, Tendulkar's home ground.


Reflecting on this momentous occasion, Kohli expressed his joy, saying, "This all feels like a dream. If I could paint the perfect picture, I would want this to be the picture. My life partner, the person I love the most, she is sitting there. My hero Sachin is sitting there. I was able to get the 50th in front of them and these fans in such a historic venue. It's amazing."

Despite Kohli's efforts, India fell short of victory in the final against Australia. Kohli concluded the tournament with yet another impressive half-century, scoring 54 runs from 63 balls.

During the World Cup, Kohli also moves to the third position in overall top run scorers, behind Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara.

Virat Kohli's 2023 World Cup performance

Total - 765 runs.
Average - 95.63
6 fifties, including in final
3 centuries, including in semis vs New Zealand.

In a heartwarming gesture ahead of the World Cup final, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar presented Virat Kohli with his iconic number '10' jersey. The jersey was worn by Tendulkar in his last One Day International (ODI) match against Pakistan back in 2012. In a social media post, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) captured the special moment "A special occasion & a special pre-match moment. Sachin Tendulkar 2011 and Virat Kohli 2023," wrote the BCCI.