The upcoming ODI series for India at the Kensington Oval in Barbados holds historical significance, as it marks the first time they will play ODIs at the famous ground since 2002. Much has changed in the 21 years since their last appearance in Bridgetown, with current coach Rahul Dravid being a part of the playing XI during that victory, while India’s newest Test centurion, Yashasvi Jaiswal, was just five months old at the time.
While a successful tour for India would undoubtedly mean a series win, the team has other milestones to achieve during the three matches. Former captain Virat Kohli has the opportunity to become the fastest batter to reach 13,000 runs in ODI cricket, requiring 102 runs to achieve the milestone. Kohli has played only 265 innings, compared to Sachin Tendulkar’s 321, making it an impressive feat.
If Kohli manages to notch up 533 runs across the three games, he will surpass Sanath Jayasuriya to take fourth place on the all-time leading scorers list in the 50-over format. While this might be a challenging target, Kohli’s focus is undoubtedly on climbing higher on the list and further solidifying his position as one of the greatest batters in ODI cricket, especially with the home World Cup on the horizon.
Meanwhile, India’s current captain, Rohit Sharma, is on the verge of reaching 10,000 runs in ODIs, requiring just 75 runs to achieve the milestone. Suppose he accomplishes this during the first ODI against West Indies. In that case, he will become the 15th player in ODI history and the sixth Indian to join the exclusive 10,000-run club, following the likes of Tendulkar, Kohli, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, and MS Dhoni.
Rohit will also likely become the second-fastest to reach the 10,000-run milestone, behind only Kohli’s 205 innings. The current second-position holder, Tendulkar, achieved the feat in 259 innings, making Rohit’s potential achievement even more remarkable.
ICC World Cup 2023 Schedule Announced, Click Here To Check Full Schedule
Another notable milestone is within reach for all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who aims to claim nine more wickets to reach 200 in ODIs. If he accomplishes this, Jadeja will become only the seventh Indian to achieve the milestone and the only one among them as a left-arm spinner. Despite facing competition from other spinners like Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav for a spot in the playing XI, Jadeja’s significance in the team is underscored by his proximity to this landmark.
