Kohli on 48th ODI ton: ‘Just wanted to finish the game for India’

Cricket

Products You May Like

After scoring his 48th ODI century, Virat Kohli said that he just wanted to “hang on till the end and finish off the game” as India brushed aside Bangladesh by seven wickets in Pune and make it four out of four wins in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Kohli stayed unbeaten on a 97-ball 103, reaching the magic figure with a six to hit the winning runs.

“I wanted to make a big contribution. I have had a few fifties in World Cups, and I have never really converted them so I just wanted to finish the game off this time around. Yeah, hang on till the end which is what I have done over the years for the team,” Kohli, who was awarded the Player-Of-The-Match award said.

For the longest time, it did not seem as if Kohli would get to triple digits. Chasing 257, India had reached 229 for 3 at the end of the 38-over mark, needing a further 28 to win. At this point, Kohli was on 73. Kohli and KL Rahul took a single each off the first two balls of the 39th over with the equation reading: India needing 20 to win, Kohli needing the same for a ton.
This was when Kohli took his chances. He pumped Hasan Mahmud into the stands over long-on before slamming Nasum Ahmed for a four and a six. The duo turned down singles before Kohli, on 97 at that point, smashed Nasum for six over deep midwicket to register a century and an India win in the 42nd over.

Earlier, Kohli couldn’t have asked for a better start to his innings when he received two free-hits from Mahmud right at the start which he clobbered for a four and a six to get his innings rolling.

“I was telling Shubman [Gill] that even if you dream about a situation like that you just go back to sleep, you won’t think it is real,” Kohli said. “It was a dream start for me, first four balls two free hits a six and four, just calms you down and just gets you into the innings. The pitch was pretty good and it allowed me to play my game…just time the ball hit the gaps, run hard and get the boundaries wherever needed.”

Kohli and R Ashwin are the only two surviving members of India’s 2011 World Cup win and he reckoned the atmosphere is great in the change room.

“There is a great atmosphere in the change room. We are loving each other’s company, the spirit is for everyone to see off the field, that’s why it is translating like that on the field. We understand it is a long tournament and you need to create some momentum in the change room for the guys to come out and play like this. It’s a special feeling playing at home, playing in front of all these people so we just want to make the most of it.”

Products You May Like

Articles You May Like

What makes Eagles’ A.J. Brown-DeVonta Smith tandem truly special
5 Things To Know for 2024: Ottawa REDBLACKS
Aston Villa vs Olympiacos: Preview, predictions and lineups
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: 7 pickups ready to improve your squad
All-ACC forward Omier leaving Miami for Baylor