Ahead of the high-stakes clash between India and Pakistan in the 2023 Asia Cup, personal records might not be the foremost concern for cricket enthusiasts. In these moments, as Gautam Gambhir aptly puts it, individual obsessions take a backseat, and the spirit of patriotism reignites cricket’s essence as a team sport.
Nonetheless, we bring you five noteworthy records, for they are significant and might add an extra layer of excitement or solace depending on your team’s performance.
1. Virat Kohli’s ODI Run-Scoring Milestone:
The iconic Virat Kohli is closing in on a monumental record of his own. He requires 102 runs in his next 56 innings to become the fastest to reach 13,000 runs in ODIs. Notably, Kohli has two centuries against Pakistan in ODIs, and a third in this match would likely secure this record. The current record holder, Sachin Tendulkar, took 321 innings to reach 13,000 runs.
If not 102, 79 runs would position Kohli as the fifth batter to score 14,000 runs across formats at number three, a distinction held by Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara, Kane Williamson, and Rahul Dravid. It’s worth noting that these players had more Test matches at number three, unlike Kohli, who mainly bats at four in red-ball cricket.
2. Shubman Gill’s Debut Against Pakistan:
For Shubman Gill, this match marks his debut against Pakistan, and he has an opportunity to make it memorable by becoming the fastest batter to accumulate 1500 ODI runs. Presently, he stands at 1437 runs from just 27 innings, needing 63 runs to break the record held by former Netherlands all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate, achieved in 32 innings. Shreyas Iyer currently holds the Indian record at 38 innings.
3. Imam-ul-Haq’s Quest for Fastest 3000 ODI Runs:
An underrated member of Pakistan’s batting lineup, opener Imam-ul-Haq, has a chance to become the second-fastest player to reach 3000 ODI runs. Currently, he has 2889 runs in 63 innings and requires 111 runs in his next two innings to surpass Shai Hope’s record of 67 innings. Hashim Amla from South Africa currently holds this record with 57 innings. However, scoring 111 runs against India, especially in light of Imam’s past performances against them, presents a formidable challenge.
4. Rohit Sharma’s Assault on Sixes Records:
India’s captain and opener, Rohit Sharma, is eyeing two records related to sixes. He needs just a couple of sixes to break Suresh Raina’s record for the most sixes by an Indian in the ODI format of the Asia Cup. Rohit has 17 sixes to his name at the moment and can also challenge Shahid Afridi’s overall tournament record of 26 sixes. Given his impressive track record against Pakistan, it wouldn’t be surprising if he narrows down this lead on Saturday.
So, as you gear up for the India vs. Pakistan clash, keep these records in mind; they might add an extra layer of excitement to the game or offer some consolation in the event of an unexpected outcome.
5. Babar Azam’s Pursuit of ODI Captaincy Runs Record:
Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, stands on the cusp of a remarkable achievement. He is on the verge of becoming the fastest batter to amass 2000 ODI runs while captaining. With 1994 runs from 30 innings, he needs a mere six runs in his next five innings to surpass the current record holder, Virat Kohli, who achieved this feat in 36 innings.
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