IPL: Virat Kohli Stamps His Brilliance on Sachin Tendulkar's Birthday

For Indian cricket fans, April 24 is a very special day for them. It is the day when Sachin Tendulkar was born. In 24 years of his international service, Tendulkar changed the dynamics of cricket not only in India but around the world.

Tendulkar's achievements on the field are phenomenal, with 15921 runs in 200 Tests at an average of 53.78 in Tests and 18426 runs in 463 ODIs at an average of 44. He was the first batsman to score a double ton in ODIs and is the only player in history to score 100 international centuries.

However, for some seasons now, Virat Kohli has been a run-accumulator in all forms of cricket. In the modern era, Kohli's appetite for runs and his ability to be a match-winner is drawing comparisons with Tendulkar. On the occasion of Tendulkar's 43rd birthday, Kohli stamped his class and justified the comparison with his maiden century in the Indian Premier League.

Despite the century, RCB lost the match by six wickets. Kohli remarked after the match, "I am not really feeling good right now. Would have liked to cross the line on the right side of the result. Missed a coupled of hundreds before. Personal performances are good, but not having a win is difficult. Not at any stage was I thinking about a hundred."

Despite the loss, it does not take away the shine off Kohli's knock. Here are some statistical highlights of Kohli's exploits in the game at Rajkot.

4 - Virat Kohli became the fourth skipper in the Indian Premier League to score a century. Sachin Tendulkar was the first when he smashed 100 against Kochi Tuskers Kerala. Virender Sehwag is second when he smashed 119 against Deccan Chargers for Delhi Daredevils while Adam Gilchrist smashed 106 for Kings XI Punjab against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

43 - Before the match against Gujarat Lions, Kohli had scored a total of 42 Twenty20 fifties in addition to 16 Twenty20 International fifties. This was the 43rd time he had registered a fifty-plus score but the first time he scored a century. Incidentally, the number 43 is also special to Tendulkar. On April 24, it was his 43rd birthday.

91.25 - Virat Kohli's average in the 2016 Indian Premier League after five matches. He is the leading run-getter and his phenomenal run in Twenty20 Internationals continue. In 2016, his average in T20Is is a staggering 125.

37 - This was the 37th occasion that a batsman has scored a century in the IPL across all editions. Kohli's is the second batsman to score a century in the 2016 edition after Quinton de Kock.

4 - Kohli is the fourth batsman from Royal Challengers Bangalore to score a century in the Indian Premier League. Manish Pandey with one, AB de Villiers with one and Chris Gayle with five are the century-makers for RCB. Kings XI Punjab have the maximum centurions in their squad with six.