In a thrilling World Cup 2023 match against Bangladesh, Indian cricket maestro Virat Kohli showcased his extraordinary batting prowess, notching up his 48th One Day International (ODI) century. This remarkable achievement was accompanied by another historic milestone, as Kohli became the quickest player to reach 26,000 international runs, a testament to his exceptional consistency and dominance.
In this exhilarating encounter, Virat Kohli displayed his sheer class, scoring an unbeaten 103 runs off 97 balls. His impeccable performance played a pivotal role in India’s fourth consecutive victory in the tournament, propelling them to the top of the points table. With this stunning century, Kohli’s aggregate international runs surged to an impressive 26,026, accumulated over 511 innings.
Surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record
What made this achievement even more remarkable was that Kohli surpassed the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s record to reach this milestone in just 33 innings fewer. Kohli’s unparalleled run-scoring ability places him in an elite club of cricketers, as he became only the fourth batsman in the history of the sport to cross the 26,000-run mark in international cricket. His runs are distributed across the three formats, with 8,676 runs in Tests, 13,342 runs in ODIs, and 4,008 runs in T20Is.
Kohli’s 48th ODI century also brought him within striking distance of Sachin Tendulkar’s world record of 49 ODI centuries. With his current form and consistency, Kohli appears poised to surpass this record during the ongoing ODI World Cup. In the broader context of his international career, Kohli boasts a staggering 78 centuries, consisting of 29 in Tests, 48 in ODIs, and one in T20Is. This achievement places him second only to Sachin Tendulkar, who has an astounding 100 international centuries (49 in ODIs and 51 in Tests).
Sportsmanship above all
The moment of Kohli’s century was characterized by his sportsmanship and humility. He was batting on 97 when India needed just two runs to secure the win while chasing a target of 261. At that juncture, he hesitated to take the single required to reach his century. Kohli expressed concerns about appearing self-centered in pursuit of a personal milestone, especially on the grand stage of a World Cup match. However, his partner at the crease, KL Rahul, encouraged him to seize the moment. Eventually, Kohli hit a six in the 42nd over, not only securing his century but also steering India to victory with seven wickets in hand.
India’s next challenge is against New Zealand, a team that has also maintained an unblemished record with four consecutive wins in the tournament. The clash between these two cricketing giants promises to be a thrilling encounter, set to unfold on October 22 in Dharamsala.