February 15, 2015. Virat Kohli scores a world cup century against Pakistan. It’s India’s opening clash and the hundred sets the base for an impressive win.
October 19, 2023. Virat Kohli scores his first world cup century after eight years when he had kickstarted his team’s campaign on a sparkling note.
Since September 2021, Kohli has been on a spree of ending his various century droughts with Thursday’s ODI World Cup 2023 match between India and Bangladesh being another such occasion. The hundred came in a dramatic fashion with Kohli getting to the milestone with a six that also sealed his team’s emphatic seven-wicket win in Pune.
Kohli remained unbeaten on 103 off 97 and was declared player-of-the-match ahead of team-mate Ravindra Jadeja who had produced a fine spell during which he took 2/38 from 10 overs apart from a stunning effort on the field that included a diving catch of Litton Das.
“Sorry for stealing it from Jaddu,” Kohli said upon receiving the award. “I wanted to make a big contribution. I have had a few fifties in World Cups, haven’t really converted them. I just wanted to finish the game off this time around and hang on till the end which is what I have done over the years for the team.”
Kohli had gone the entire 2019 world cup without hitting a hundred – he scored five half-centuries though.
Kohli walked in to bat after the dismissal of Rohit Sharma (48) in the chase of 257. As luck would have it, the first two deliveries to him from Hasan Mahmud were no balls and the India star scored a double off the first and a four off the free-hit that followed which was also called no-ball for the bowler overstepping, again.
This time though, Kohli cleared the boundary for a six.
“I was telling Shubman (Gill), even if you dream about a situation like that, you’ll just go back to sleep, you won’t think it’s real. It was a dream start for me, first four balls, two free-hits, a six and a four. Just calms you down gets you into the innings,” Kohli said.
“The pitch was pretty good and it allowed me to play my game; just time the ball, hit the gaps, run hard and get the boundaries whenever needed,” he added.
The win was India’s fourth in a row and along with New Zealand, they remain the only unbeaten team in the tournament so far. The two teams, who will clash this Sunday, are level on points but New Zealand are at the top of the table thanks to a better net run rate.
“There’s a great atmosphere in the change room, we are loving each others’ company, the spirit is there for everyone to see on the field. That’s why it’s translating like that on the field,” Kohli said.
Kohli said he wants to make the most of playing in a world cup in front of his home fans.
“We understand it’s a long tournament, you need to create some momentum in the change room for the guys to come out and play like this. It’s a special feeling playing at home, playing in front of all these people, we just want to make the most of it,” he said.
Comments
0 comment