Virat Kohli reaffirmed his status as a cricketing legend with an unbeaten century, steering India to a six-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy on Sunday. His 51st ODI century not only secured India's second consecutive win in the tournament but also brought them closer to a semi-final berth.
Chasing a target of 242, India faced an early setback with the dismissal of captain Rohit Sharma in the fifth over. Kohli then anchored the innings, forming crucial partnerships with Shubman Gill (46) and Shreyas Iyer (56). His composed 100* off 111 balls guided India to a comfortable victory with 45 balls to spare.
This century marked a significant milestone for Kohli, making him the third player after Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara to surpass 14,000 runs in One Day Internationals, achieving the feat in fewer innings than both.
Reflecting on his performance, Kohli stated, "It feels good to be able to back in that manner in an important game where we wanted to (effectively) seal our qualification into the semis."
He added, "My job was pretty clear—to control the middle overs, to try and go after the seam bowlers and not take too many risks against the spinners but keep rotating strike."
India's next match is against New Zealand on March 2, and Kohli welcomed the week-long break. "To be honest, at 36, it's very good... I just need to put my feet up for two days," he said with a smile. "It takes a lot out of me now to be putting that kind of effort on the field, and I'm just thankful we have a bit of time off."
Indian captain Rohit Sharma expressed confidence in Kohli's abilities, stating, "That is what he is known for. People sitting inside the dressing room are not surprised with what he has done."
This victory solidifies India's position in the tournament, bringing them closer to securing a semi-final spot.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ