India, Dec. 4 -- Only 43 cricketers in the history of ODIs have scored more than 11 centuries in the format. That number is only meant to give you some context for the statistic that is to follow. Virat Kohli, the man who seems to score ODI tons for fun, has scored 11 back-to-back tons in the 307 matches he has played.

The number is astounding on its own. But it is only when one takes into account that the next best on the back-to-back ton list is AB de Villiers with six that the true weight of the statistic is felt. So much has been written about how Kohli constructs his innings; about how he plans the chase; about why he is the master of the format.

But to find consistent (and record-breaking) success in an era where everyone seems to...