By – Prakarsh Kastwar
In the Asia Cup game between India and Pakistan, Virat Kohli breaks Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time record by scoring his 47th century and reaching 13,000 runs in ODIs.
During the Asia Cup 2023 Super Four game between India and Pakistan, Virat Kohli on Monday added another achievement to his resume as he quickly surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s mark of 13000 ODI runs and became the fastest to the milestone. After picking up where he left off the previous day’s reserve day, the former India skipper took just 29 more balls to reach his 47th ODI century. In doing so, Kohli easily surpassed the great Tendulkar to the achievement in his 267th innings. As a result, he has scored 8000, 9000, 10000, 11000, 120000, and now 13000 ODI runs faster than any other hitter.
The fact that Kohli conquered Mount 13K in 54 fewer innings than Tendulkar (321 innings) gives the Virat vs. Sachin debate more significance. With his 47th century, Kohli is now just two from matching his idol’s record for the most ODI centuries and three from surpassing the great man’s 50 one-day tons, which is a fantastic accomplishment in and of itself. KL Rahul scored his sixth ODI century and India amassed a massive 356/2 thanks to Virat Kohli’s love for Pakistan. The highest run total on any wicket in Asia Cup history—233 runs, unbeaten—was made by Kohli and Rahul for the third wicket. Additionally, this marks Kohli’s fourth consecutive hundred at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
With 12902 runs, Kohli needed 98 runs to qualify for the game. On Sunday, when play was suspended due to rain after 24.1 overs, India had scored 147/2. And on Monday, he made money on a great batting surface. Although both Kohli and KL Rahul started the game carefully, they both knew that Pakistan technically lacked a bowler and that Haris Rauf had advised against continuing the game’s bowling. Therefore, the shackles were lifted when Iftikhar Ahmed came to bowl his delicious off-breaks standing in for Rauf. Rahul started the onslaught by putting up a fantastic century partnership.
When Shaheen Afridi picked up the pace and Rahul was running along brilliantly, Kohli got his eye in and found his timing. Kohli found his timing, but he was unable to fill in the gaps. His displeasure could be seen on his face each time he connected with the ball but failed to make a run. But when Rahul started to falter at the 40-over point, Kohli was the one to blow out. Kohli hit Iftikhar for a six and a four off his final delivery to reach the seventys. It was his seventh time hitting a boundary.
Kohli maintained a skyward gaze throughout his whole inning, keeping one eye on the clouds. He was conscious that India needed to obtain as many as possible so that Pakistan would have a lofty aim if it came down to DLS, if there is rain on the horizon. As India continued to score more than six runs each over, he and Rahul did just that. As he edged Naseem Shah for a boundary behind the wicketkeeper, his first four wasn’t very impressive. It almost seemed as though Kohli knew he had to punish Pakistan after they blew their second review of him.
At first, Kohli had some trouble against Faheem Ashraf, but after three boundaries, everything was in order. Kohli accelerated from 86 to 97 while Rahul stroked a couple dot balls on 98. He reached 99 after two balls, and the subsequent single brought back a classic Kohli celebration. With back-to-back boundaries and a six off the final three deliveries, Kohli finished off the Indian innings, capping off a fantastic batting display by India that saw them record the joint-highest ODI total against Pakistan.