It was a dream start for me, says Kohli after his first ton in World Cup 2023
Kohli’s hundred in Pune moved him just one behind Tendulkar for the most centuries in ODI cricket. Kohli’s 48th ton in the format means he could yet overtake his compatriot’s all-time record of 49 during the 2023 World Cup
Indian bater Virat Kohli scored his 48th ODI Century chasing 257 runs target against Bangladesh in the ICC ODI World Cup at MCA stadium, on Thursday.
Kohli was at his best in India’s 257-run chase against and got to his century in 97 balls. The former India captain scored 103 run off 97 deliveries, smashing six boundaries and four sixes. This was Kohli’s first century in the World Cup since his 107 against Pakistan during the 2015 edition in Adelaide, with the 34-year-old posting seven fities at the tournament prior to Thursday’s hundred.
“I wanted to make a significant contribution. I’ve had a few 50s in the World Cup, and I haven’t really converted them. So, I just wanted to finish the game off this time around and hang on till the end, which is what I’ve done over the years for the team,” said Kohli ater the match
Kohli came to bat ater the fall of skipper Rohit Sharma’s wicket who got out at 48 runs. Virat got off the mark with his trademark cover drive and looked confident with each shot.
Kohli also revealed about the conversation with young Shubman Gill who opened the inning with Rohit but out ater scoring 53 off 55 deliveries.
“I was telling Shubman that even if you dream about a situation like that, you’d just go back to sleep. You wouldn’t think it’s real.”
With four win in four matches, India are now positioned second on the points table behind New Zealand who are on the top of the table with +1.923 NRR. With team spirit high and a surreal atmosphere, Kohli revealed how he enjoyed his inning with the players and staff members around him.
Kohli and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin are the only two players who featured in 2011 World Cup winner team which the former finds a “special feeling”.
“There’s a great atmosphere in the changing room. We love each other’s company. The spirit is evident for everyone to see on the field, and that’s why it translates like that on the field. We understand it’s a long tournament, and you need to create momentum in the changing room for the guys to come out and play like this.
Ash (R Ashwin) and I have been together since 2011, so yeah. Its a special feeling playing at home in front of all these people, so we just want to make the most of it,” he concluded.
RAH UL REVEALS WHY KOHL I AVOIDED SINGLES: KL Rahul revealed that refraining from taking singles was his idea to enable Kohli to maintain strike and thereby enhance his prospects of reaching a century.
“He was confused, he said it will not look too nice, not to take the single, it’s still a World Cup, and it’s still a big stage. ‘I don’t want to look like I am just trying to get the milestone’,” Rahul told Star Sports as quoted by Espncricinfo.
“But I said, I mean it is not won but still I think we’ll win quite easily, so if you can get to the milestone why not, you must try. And he did that in the end. I wasn’t going to run the singles anyway,” he said.
YOU WANT TO PUT THE TEAM FIRST, SAYS PU JAR A: Indian Test bater Cheteshwar Pujara gave his take following Kohli’s remarkable achievement of scoring his 48th ODI century, which he accomplished by strategically refraining from taking singles in the final overs of the run chase.
“As much I wanted Virat (Kohli) to score that hundred, you have to keep in mind, that you want to finish the game as early as possible. You want your Net Run Rate to be at the top. If you are in a position where you are fighting for the Net Run Rate, then you don’t want to look back and say ‘you could have done that’,” Cheteshwar Pujara told ESPN Cricinfo.
“That’s where I feel that as a collective decision, maybe you have to sacrifice a bit. You want to look at the team, you want to put the team first, that’s how I look at it. You want your milestone, but not at the cost of the team. As a player, you always have a choice. But some players feel if they get a hundred, it helps them in the next game. So it depends on what kind of mindset you have,” he added.