Virat Kohli vs Ricky Ponting after 299 ODIs: Who has performed better in run chases?

Virat Kohli vs. Ricky Ponting after 299 ODIs: A comparison of their performances in run chases and key statistics.

Virat Kohli and Ricky Ponting (Via X)

Virat Kohli has undoubtedly dominated international cricket in the last decade. In ODI cricket, he has certainly remained much above the rest. The former Indian captain is undoubtedly one of the best ODI batter in cricket history, and he proved it once again under pressure in a run chase against India’s arch-rivals, Pakistan.

Chasing a target of 242 runs against the Men in Green in their second match in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Men in Blue lost the Indian captain Rohit Sharma with the team score of 31. Kohli, who remained under pressure in the recent matches, resurrected the Indian innings. He held the fort for his team by smashing his 51st ODI hundred and his 82nd international century to help India win.

‘Chase Master’ in ODI cricket is a characteristic of Kohli, as he has proved time and time again with his performances that he is a different beast, and his performance gets elevated when he comes in a run chase in ODI cricket. In this piece, let’s take a look at the comparison between the former Indian captain and former Australian captain Ricky Ponting in chases after 299 ODIs.

Ponting has played 125 innings in run chases in 299 ODIs and has scored 4040 runs with six centuries and 24 half-centuries. On the other hand, Kohli has scored 7979 runs in 158 innings in run chases in 299 ODIs, with 28 centuries and 50 half-centuries.

Although the former Indian captain has played more innings than Ponting, he still has a better average in run chases, considerably more runs, and centuries as well. Therefore, he has definitely fared better than the former Australian captain.

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Virat Kohli has a bigger impact in run chases than Ricky Ponting after 299 ODI’s

Ponting has a batting average of 41.64 and a strike rate of 75.28 in run chases after 299 ODIs. The former Australian captain also has an average of 57.73 in successful run chases in this period. On the other hand, Kohli has an impeccable batting average of 64.34 and a strike-rate of 93.33 in run chases after 299 ODIs. The former Indian captain also has an 89.59 average in successful run chases in this period.

Ponting has smashed six centuries in successful run chases after 299 ODIs and Kohli has smashed 24 centuries in successful run chases in this period. All these stats clearly point out that the former Indian captain has remained a notch above Ponting in run chases and also successful run chases in this period.

Another category is the average of both the players in ODI run chases in all the countries. Ponting has an average of 20.73 in India, 36.13 in Australia, 34.50 in South Africa, 66.36 in England, 14 in New Zealand, 50 in West Indies and 39.75 in Sri Lanka.

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On the other hand, Kohli has an average of 65.96 in India, 51.06 in Australia, 77.77 in South Africa, 55 in England, 61.37 in New Zealand, 48.14 in West Indies and 46.41 in Sri Lanka. This stat perfectly depicts why Kohli is the chase master, given he has a better average in six of the seven countries. These stats are inhuman and definitely Kohli has been better than Ponting in run chases after 299 ODIs.