Virat Kohli will return to the cricket field for India against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup Super 4 match within less than 18 hours after his impressive century against Pakistan. Kohli’s century in the Asia Cup Super-4 game against Pakistan on Monday holds special significance for multiple reasons.
Not only did he become the fastest batsman to reach 13,000 ODI runs and secure his 47th century in one-day internationals, but he also established the highest-ever partnership in Asia Cup history for any wicket. Beyond the statistics, Kohli’s unbeaten 122 is treasured for the determination and hard work he poured into achieving this feat.
Amidst the scorching heat at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium, Kohli’s century is considered one of his most resilient performances. He resumed India’s innings at 147/2 on the reserve day and, by the time he finished, even the exceptionally fit Kohli admitted to feeling exhausted.
The India vs Pakistan match turned into a gruelling endurance test, lasting over 32 hours since the first ball was bowled. Although Kohli wasn’t actively involved throughout the entire duration, the considerable physical and mental strain on all participants cannot be overlooked.
Virat Kohli gave an exclusive statement post-match: “I was going to ask you to keep the interview short, I’m very tired“. To which Sanjay Manjrekar replied: “Just questions“
Virat Kohli reached the feat with a single:
13,000 reasons why we love him ❤️
— Disney+ Hotstar (@DisneyPlusHS) September 11, 2023
77th 💯 for #ViratKohli 👑#INDvPAK live now only on #DisneyPlusHotstar, free on the mobile app.#FreeMeinDekhteJaao #AsiaCupOnHotstar #Cricket pic.twitter.com/duTRFR7Ffy
Over time, Kohli’s approach to scoring runs has developed, much like any other batsman’s. Nowadays, the majority of his runs in an innings don’t primarily come from boundaries. Even in the recent match, only 54 out of Kohli’s 122 runs were earned through fours and sixes.
In an astonishing statistic, Kohli managed to complete 20 twos by himself, in addition to six twos with KL Rahul, totalling 26 doubles and ensuring that India maintained a run rate of at least six per over. Some might argue that Kohli doesn’t score as freely as he used to, but without even realizing it, he continues to fulfill his role exceptionally well.
The fact that Kohli was on the field for two consecutive days and will return for a third day speaks volumes about his dedication and commitment, regardless of how demanding the situation is.
It’s a rare occurrence to observe Kohli employing unconventional strokes. In an era dominated by T20 cricket, where batsmen invent shots on the fly, Kohli prefers to stick with traditional cricketing shots. He has previously stated that he’s determined to keep his game free of any unorthodox shots, as he takes pride in Test cricket.
That’s why when Kohli executed that inventive shot – a reverse ramp boundary – even the commentators on air couldn’t contain their excitement. Kohli hit the second-to-last ball for a four and concluded India’s innings with a six, but that particular shot became the topic of conversation for everyone.
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