- Wednesday, September 11, 2024
It was the India batter’s 48th century in one-day internationals and he requires one more to equal his legendary predecessor’s record 49 tons in the same format.
By: Shubham Ghosh
INDIA batter Virat Kohli on Thursday (19) slammed his 48th hundred in one-day internationals in the World Cup 2023 game against Bangladesh at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune in the western Indian state of Maharashtra.
Kohli is now just one hundred behind the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s record 49 tons in the 50-over format. Overall, it was his 78th international ton, 22 short of Tendulkar’s 100. He also went past 26,000 international runs.
It was also Kohli’s second hundred against Bangladesh at the World Cup, following his 100 not out in the debut game in the tournament in Mirpur in Bangladesh in 2011.
Chasing 257 to win after Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat, India were off to a good start with captain Rohit Sharma (48) and Subhman Gill (53) putting up a good opening partnership. But it was Kohli (103 not out off 97 balls) who stole the show, particularly with his calculated batting towards the end to reach his hundred, the first since the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
India won the game with seven wickets and over eight overs to spare. KL Rahul was the other unbeaten batter on 34.
Bangladesh’e Mehidy Hasan Miraz was the most successful bowler with two wickets for 47 runs.
Earlier in the day, Bangladesh had a good opening partnership of 93 runs between Tanzid Hasan (51) and Litton Das (66) but some disciplined bowling attack in the middle overs restricted the Tigers’ scoring. Veteran batter Mahmudullah made 46 off 36 balls to accelerate the scoring towards the end and took his team past 250. Wicket-keeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim made 38.
This was India’s fourth straight win in the mega event and they are at eight points now, along with New Zealand who they will play in their next game in Dharamsala on October 22.
