4 batters to score 10 ODI hundreds in two separate decades ft. Virat Kohli

Former India captain Virat Kohli has been one of the most consistent batters in ODIs. The 37-year-old recently slammed back-to-back centuries against South Africa in the ongoing three-match series at home.

The right-handed batter smashed 135 off 120 balls in Ranchi (series opener) and then followed it up with 102 off 93 deliveries in Raipur. Notably, the senior batter now has 53 tons in the 50-over format. Kohli recently broke Sachin Tendulkar's record for most centuries in a specific format of the game (51 hundreds in Tests).

The modern-day legend is among four batters with over 10 centuries across two different decades in ODIs.

In this article, we take a look at four batters who have scored 10 centuries across decades in the format, including Virat Kohli.

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli has the most tons in one format of the game. Source: Getty

Virat Kohli scored 9,779 runs in 211 matches in his first decade in ODI cricket, hitting a record 35 centuries. Since then, he has amassed 4,713 runs in 96 ODIs with the help of 18 tons.

The Delhi batter brought his maiden hundred against Sri Lanka in 2009 in his 14th match (13th innings). Interestingly, he's yet to complete his 20 years in international cricket.

Tourted as one of the greatest of all time in ODIs, Kohli has 14,492 runs in 307 ODIs, including 53 tons (and counting).

Player	Decade 1	100s	Decade 2	100s
Virat Kohli	18-Aug-2008 to 17-Aug-2018	35	18-Aug-2018 - Till date	18 (and counting)

Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar is the highest run-scorer in ODIs. Source: Getty

Like Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar ruled ODI cricket for decades. The little master took 79 matches (76 innings) to bring up his first ODI ton. It came against Australia in 1994.

In his first decade, Tendulkar piled up 8,571 runs in 229 matches with the help of 24 centuries. In his second decade in ODIs, the legend scored 8,676 runs in 208 games, smashing 21 tons. Overall, he finished as the leading run-getter in the format, amassing 18,426 runs in 463 ODIs, comprising 49 tons.

Player	Decade 1	100s	Decade 2	100s
Sachin Tendulkar	18-Dec-1989 to 17-Dec-1999	24	18-Dec-1999 to 17-Dec-2009	21

Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting amassed 13,704 runs in his illustrious ODI career. Source: Getty

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting is also among the few batters to hit 10 ODI tons across decades. The right-handed batter amassed 7,721 runs in 218 ODIs, hitting 16 centuries. In his remaining seven-year career, the Tasmania-born player then amassed 5,983 runs in 157 games, including 14 tons. The two-time World Cup-winning skipper finished with 13,704 runs in 375 ODIs, comprising 30 tons.

Player	Decade 1	100s	Decade 2	100s
Ricky Ponting	15-Feb-1995 to 14-Feb-2005	16	15-Feb-2005 to 19-Feb-2012	14

Kumar Sangakkara

Kumar Sangakkara slammed 25 tons in his 15-year ODI career. Source: Getty

Like the above three legends, former Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara also enjoyed massive success in his ODI career. Like Tendulkar, the star batter needed 86 matches (79 innings) to bring up his first-ever century. In his first ODI decade, Sangakkara piled up 8,336 runs in 271 games with the help of 10 centuries. In his remaining five-year career, he amassed 5,898 runs in 133 ODIs, hitting 15 hundreds.

Player	Decade 1	100s	Decade 2	100s
Kumar Sangakkara	5-July-2000 to 4-July-2010	10	5-July-2010 to 18-Mar-2015	15

Overall, the southpaw finished his 50-over career with 14,234 runs in 404 matches, including 25 tons.