NEW DELHI: Batting maestro
Virat Kohli said that he always played to help the team as much as possible and is not desperate for milestones after leading India to a record-shattering win against Sri Lanka in the third one-day international (ODI) on Sunday in
Thiruvananthapuram.
India thrashed hapless Sri Lanka by a record 317 runs, the highest-ever victory margin in ODI history as the hosts swept the series 3-0 against the visitors. India went past New Zealand’s 290-run thrashing of Ireland in 2008.
Kohli scored a magnificent 166 not out (110 balls), his third century in the last four matches, and along with Shubman Gill, who scored 116 off 97, took India to a mammoth 390 for 5. Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj then returned impressive figures of 4-32 to help India bowled out the tourists for a paltry 73 in 22 overs.
Kohli also surpassed Sri Lankan great Mahela Jayawardene’s 12,650 ODI runs to enter the top five all-time run getters.
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Records galore as Virat Kohli hits 46th ODI century
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<p>Virat Kohli hit his 46th ODI ton as the Indian run-machine went past Sachin Tendulkar’s record of scoring most ODI centuries (9) against a single opponent in the third ODI against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram.</p>
<p>Tendulkar has scored nine hundreds against Australia in ODIs whereas Kohli also made the same number of tons against the West Indies.</p>
<p>Kohli also became the fifth-highest run-scorer in history of ODI cricket on Sunday, overtaking Sri Lankan legend Mahela Jayawardene to enter into the top-five.</p>
<p>At the time of becoming the fifth highest run-scorer, Virat had 12,652 runs in 268 ODIs at an average of 57.78, with 45 tons and 65 half-centuries. His best score in the format is 183.</p>
<p>He overtook Jayawardene, who has scored 12,650 runs in 448 matches, 418 innings at an average of 33.37. He has 19 centuries and 77 fifties in the format, with the best score of 144.</p>
<p>The highest run-scorer in ODI history is Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar. He has scored 18,426 runs at an average of 44.83. He has 49 centuries and 96 fifties in this format, with the best of 200*.</p>
<p>Following Tendulkar are, Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara (14,234 runs in 404 matches), Australian great Ricky Ponting (13,704), Sri Lankan all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya (13,430 in 445 matches) and Virat.<br /></p>
<p>Kohli, who had ended a nearly three year wait for an international hundred in the Asia Cup last year, is back to his best and has been scoring hundreds at will in a World Cup year.</p>
<p>The century against Sri Lanka was Kohli’s third hundred in his last four innings and 46th in the ODIs, just three away to equal Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time record of 49 tons.</p>
<p>What is remarkable is his conversion ratio as he got to his 46th ton in 259 innings while Tendulkar had taken 452 innings to get to 49 centuries.</p>
<p>Kohli got to his century off 85 balls studded with 10 fours and a six. His numbers in the ODIs reflect the dominance Kohli owns as he scored 37 tons in winning causes ahead of Tendulkar (33) and Ricky Ponting (25).</p>
<p>Kohli went berserk after the century and exhibited a sheer brilliance of magnificent power hitting during his whirlwind knock of 166 not out off 110 balls with the help of 13 fours and 8 sixes.</p>
<p>Kohli began the innings with a flurry of boundaries before accumulating runs with his exemplary running between the wickets.</p>
<p>Kohli’s first of his eight sixes came in the 80s and it was a mishit over long on, leaving him in a chuckle.</p>
<p>Before Kohli took over, Shubman Gill had played some high quality strokes en route to his second ODI hundred.</p>
<p>Kohli added 131 runs for the second wicket with centurion Gill.</p>
<p>Gill’s century came in 89 balls with the help of 10 fours and two maximums. </p>
<p>Gill, who scored his first century against Zimbabwe, is the only batter in men’s ODIs from India to have an average of 55 and a strike rate of more than 100.</p>
<p>Skipper Rohit Sharma (42 off 49) and Gill (116 off 97) laid the platform for a massive total of 390 runs with a 95-run opening partnership.</p>
“It (the awards) is the by-product of the intent I have,” Kohli, who hit his 74th international century, said after being named man of the match and series.
“Mindset is always to help the team as much as I can, bat for as long as possible and put the team in a strong position. I have always played for the right reasons, to help the team as much as possible.”
Former captain Kohli has been in blazing form since coming out of an extended lean patch last year when he spoke about his mental struggles during the phase.
“Ever since I came back from the break, I am feeling good and I don’t have any desperation anymore to get to a milestone,” Kohli said.
“I want to continue being in this space where I am relaxed and content with how I am playing, and that for me is the most important thing. Today I was happy to be batting out there, and in that space I ended up playing my best cricket.”
Kohli, 34, has amassed 12,754 runs in 268 ODI matches for India, behind Sachin Tendulkar (18,426), Kumar Sangakkara (14,234), Ricky Ponting (13,704) and Sanath Jayasuriya (13,430).
On Sunday, Kohli changed gears after his 46th ODI century — three behind Tendulkar’s all-time record of 49 — as he smashed Karunaratne for two successive sixes. Kohli reached his 150 in 106 balls and finished off with 13 fours and eight sixes.
(With inputs from AFP)
