KL Rahul and Virat Kohli broke the record of the highest partnership for any wicket in the Super 4 Clash played at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo which was sent into reserve day on 11th September. It was a high-class batting effort right from the word go putting enough pressure against top quality pace bowling lineup including Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf.
After being asked to bat first by Babar Azam on 10th September, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill showed intent right from word go with Gill putting pressure on Shaheen Shah Afridi with 6 boundaries. It was a superb batting display by Indian openers not allowing them to settle. At the end of the first 10 overs, Indian openers raced away to 61 for 0.
The reserve day started late due to heavy rains. Pakistan was dealt a major blow as Haris Rauf could not bowl due to an injury. KL Rahul looked in sublime touch putting enough pressure on the Pakistan bowlers, especially Iftikhar Ahmed. He completed his fifty off 60 deliveries while Kohli reached a half-century off 55 deliveries.
KL Rahul and Kohli demonstrated attacking batting skills putting enough pressure on the Pakistan bowling lineup looking clueless. Rahul completed a century with his comeback match off 100 deliveries keeping the momentum going. Virat Kohli also reached 100 off 84 deliveries and destroyed the opponents. Kohli and KL Rahul added unbeaten 233 runs for the 3rd wicket.
Shubman Gill looked in sensational touch completing his fifty off just 37 deliveries. Rohit Sharma struggled against Naseem Shah before launching an attack against Shahbad Khan with half trackers that made life tough for Pakistan bowlers. The Indian captain Rohit also reached half-century off 42 deliveries. The Indian openers kept the momentum going a superb catch by Faheem Ashraf resulted in the wicket of Rohit Sharma.
Rohit and Shubman Gill added 121 runs for the opening wicket laying a strong foundation for a massive total. Soon after, Shubman Gill also fell with a slower delivery by Shaheen Shah Afridi caught by Salman Ali Agha. KL Rahul came to the crease and looked decent with his attacking shots. On the other hand, Virat Kohli struggled initially before heavy rain stopped the play.
Record Partnership in Asia Cup history
KL Rahul and Virat Kohli broke the record of the highest partnership for any wicket in 50 Asia Cup history. They overalled the record of Nasir Jamshed and Mohammed Hafeez putting on 224 runs for the opening wicket at Sher-B Bangla Stadium, Mirpur on 18th March 2012.
KL Rahul and Kohli destroyed the Pakistan bowling lineup putting on 233 unbeaten for the 3rd wicket. Both made batting look easy on reserve day.
Highest partnership in ODI Asia Cup
233 – V Kohli & KL Rahul vs PAK, today*
224 – M Hafeez & N Jamshed vs IND, 2012
223 – S Malik & Younis Khan vs HK, 2004
214 – Babar & Iftikhar Ahmed vs NEP, 2023
Highest partnership for India against Pakistan in ODIs:
233* – Virat Kohli & KL Rahul, Colombo (RPS), today* (3rd wicket)
231 – Navjot Sidhu & Sachin Tendulkar, Sharjah, 1996 (2nd wicket)
210 – Shikhar Dhawan & Rohit Sharma, Dubai (DSc), 2018 (1st wicket)
201 – Rahul Dravid & Virender Sehwag, Kochi, 2005 (3rd wicket)
Consecutive centuries at the same venue in ODIs
4 – Hashim Amla, Centurion
4* – VIRAT KOHLI, Colombo RPS
3 – Zaheer Abbas, Lahore
3 – Saeed Anwar, Sharjah
3 – Sanath Jayasuriya, Sydney
3 – Quinton de Kock, Centurion
3* – Rohit Sharma, Birmingham
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