
In the thrilling encounter against Bangladesh, Virat Kohli notched up his 48th ODI century in dramatic fashion, thanks to his partnership with KL Rahul. The unique aspect of this innings was their conscious decision to avoid easy singles, allowing Kohli to reach this significant milestone.
Kohli’s 48th ODI century has sparked discussions about his potential to surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time record of 49 centuries, and this prospect is especially intriguing as it coincides with the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2023, hosted in India.
This remarkable century marked Kohli’s third century in ICC Cricket World Cups and his 48th in his overall ODI career. However, it seemed for a while that he might fall short of reaching triple figures when India needed 19 runs to secure victory, with Kohli himself still 19 runs away from the coveted century.
What stood out in this scenario was KL Rahul’s crucial support at the other end. Rahul took the responsibility of ensuring Kohli retained the strike, enhancing his chances of reaching the century. The moment of glory came when Kohli struck a maximum, simultaneously achieving his century and sealing India’s victory.
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After the match, which India won convincingly by seven wickets with 51 balls to spare, Rahul shared the reasoning behind this unconventional strategy. According to him, Kohli initially expressed hesitance about forgoing easy singles, concerned that it might seem as if he was solely chasing a personal milestone, even on the grand stage of a World Cup. However, Rahul provided a pragmatic perspective, suggesting that with the victory seemingly assured, there was no harm in Kohli pursuing the century. Ultimately, this strategy paid off, with Rahul also admitting he had no intention of running those singles in any case.
In addition to the century, Kohli achieved another significant milestone during this innings. He became the fastest batter in the history of men’s international cricket to score 26,000 runs, surpassing the previous record held by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, albeit in 33 fewer innings.
Kohli’s unbeaten 103 against Bangladesh reaffirmed his stature as a top-class batsman. At the moment, only India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, has accumulated more runs in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. This places the duo at the top two positions in the “Most Runs” table.
This victory not only marked a crucial moment for Kohli and India but also had a substantial impact on the World Cup standings. India’s triumph drew them level on points with New Zealand, both remaining unbeaten after four matches in the tournament. However, New Zealand retained the top position in the table due to their superior net run rate. The race for the World Cup crown promises more excitement as these two teams continue their impressive performances.