The God of Cricket has always been Sachin Tendulkar. That one is not a debate.
But who sits at number two? That question has been running for over a decade.
And the more the stats pile up behind Virat Kohli, the harder it gets to argue against him.
Who Is The 2nd God of Cricket In The World?
Quick Answer: Virat Kohli is the 2nd God of Cricket in the world. He averages above 50 in all three international formats, holds the record for most ODI centuries (50), and has broken multiple Tendulkar milestones. No other player of his generation comes close to matching that body of work.
Why This Title Even Exists?
The label “God of Cricket” was never an official award. Fans gave it to Sachin because his batting made them feel something no scoreboard could fully capture.
The 2nd God conversation started the same way. When a player starts breaking records that were considered unbreakable, people notice.
When he does it across three formats, over 15 years, fans reach for the only language big enough to describe it.
That is where Kohli sits now.
Who Is the 2nd God of Cricket in the World?
Virat Kohli. The stats are the short answer. The long answer is below.
Born in Delhi in 1988, Kohli made his ODI debut in 2008 and his Test debut in 2011.
By 2013, he was ranked the best ODI batter in the world. By 2017, his ICC ODI rating of 889 points surpassed even Tendulkar’s 1998 peak of 887.
That number was not symbolic. It was a direct, measurable comparison between two players at their absolute best. Kohli came out ahead.
Format-by-Format: The Full Picture
| Format | Innings | Runs | Average | Centuries | Half-Centuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 210+ | 9,230+ | 48.7 | 29 | 31 |
| ODIs | 280+ | 14,000+ | 58.1 | 50 | 72 |
| T20Is | 130+ | 4,100+ | 52.7 | 1 | 37 |
Three formats. Three averages above 48. No other batter in the history of the game holds that across all formats with this volume of matches.
Test cricket rewards patience and technique. ODIs reward timing and hunger for runs. T20s reward instinct and aggression. Kohli has delivered in all three, consistently, for 15 years.
The Tendulkar Records Kohli Has Already Broken
This table matters. Sachin’s records were considered safe for a generation.
| Record | Sachin Tendulkar | Virat Kohli | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most ODI centuries | 49 | 50 | Broken (Nov 2023) |
| Fastest to 10,000 ODI runs | 259 innings | 205 innings | Broken (Oct 2018) |
| Fastest to 12,000 ODI runs | 300 innings | 242 innings | Broken (Dec 2020) |
| Most runs in single ODI WC | 673 (2003) | 711 (2023) | Broken |
| Peak ICC ODI batting rating | 887 (1998) | 889 (2017) | Broken |
| Fastest to 50 intl. centuries | 376 innings | 348 innings | Broken |
Six records. All once held by the man called the God of Cricket. Now held by the man being called the second.
His Best Moments at World Cups
World Cups separate great players from truly special ones. Kohli’s numbers in these tournaments are remarkable.
| Tournament | Innings | Runs | Average | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI World Cups | 37 | 1,795 | 59.83 | 5 | 12 |
| T20 World Cups | 25 | 1,141 | 81.50 | 0 | 14 |
An average above 59 in ODI World Cups over 37 innings. An average of 81.50 in T20 World Cups, the highest in the history of that competition. His 50 half-centuries across both tournaments tell you he was rarely dismissed cheaply.
The Honest Counter-Argument
Kohli does not hold every record. Sachin has 100 international centuries. Kohli has 80+. That gap is still real and may never fully close.
Some Test cricket analysts still rank Joe Root and Steve Smith ahead of Kohli in that format alone.
Root has scored over 13,000 Test runs, more than Kohli’s 9,230+. In pure Test terms, that is a fair observation.
But this title is not about one format. It is about the full picture. And across all three, Kohli pulls ahead.
The Players Who Were Considered But Do Not Quite Fit
| Player | Best Format | ODI Average | T20I Average | Int’l Centuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | All formats | 58.1 | 52.7 | 80+ |
| Joe Root | Tests | 49.9 | 26.1 | 35+ |
| Steve Smith | Tests | 43.2 | 28.9 | 35+ |
| Rohit Sharma | ODIs / T20Is | 48.6 | 32.2 | 45+ |
| Kane Williamson | Tests / ODIs | 47.5 | 33.5 | 30+ |
Root and Smith are Test greats. Rohit has a strong white-ball career. Williamson is one of the most technically sound batters in the world. None of them averages above 50 in all three formats.
What Makes the Title Mean Something
Stats are one part of it. The other part is harder to measure.
Kohli’s fielding set a new standard for Indian cricket. His fitness changed what younger players believed was possible.
His aggressive style at the crease, particularly in chases, produced moments that cricket fans will describe to people who were not alive to watch them.
The 2016 T20 World Cup innings against Australia. The 2012 Asia Cup chase against Pakistan.
The 82 he scored in a successful 2011 World Cup chase against Pakistan in Mohali.
These are the moments that get talked about 20 years later. And they are what separate a great batter from a player who earns a title.
FAQs
- Q1. Who is the 2nd God of Cricket in the world?
Virat Kohli. He averages above 50 in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, has broken six of Sachin Tendulkar’s major records, and has the highest T20 World Cup batting average in history (81.50).
- Q2. Has anyone called Kohli the 2nd God of Cricket officially?
No. There is no official title. The label comes from fans and cricket analysts who use it to describe his position relative to Tendulkar in cricket’s all-time rankings.
- Q3. What record does Sachin still hold over Kohli?
The most significant is total international centuries: 100 for Sachin vs 80+ for Kohli. That gap remains and may not close depending on how many years Kohli plays at the top level.
- Q4. Is Joe Root or Steve Smith a contender for 2nd God?
Both are exceptional Test batters. But their white-ball records are significantly weaker than Kohli’s. The 2nd God title requires consistency across all formats, which neither Root nor Smith has matched.
- Q5. What is Virat Kohli’s highest individual ODI score?
Kohli’s highest ODI score is 183, scored against Pakistan in the Asia Cup in 2012. That innings came in a chase and is widely regarded as one of the greatest ODI innings ever played.
- Q6. When did Kohli break Sachin’s record for most ODI centuries?
On November 15, 2023, at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Kohli scored 117 against New Zealand in the ODI World Cup semi-final, bringing his total to 50 ODI centuries, one more than Sachin’s 49.
Conclusion:
The debate around the 2nd God of Cricket has a clear answer.
Virat Kohli holds the records, the numbers, and the match-winning moments.
He is not Sachin Tendulkar. Nobody is.
But he is closer than anyone expected, and he has the stats to show for it.
The title fits.
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