Indian cricket superstar, Virat Kohli, added another feather to his cap on September 11 (Monday) by becoming the quickest cricketer to amass 13,000 runs in ODIs. This remarkable feat sees Kohli eclipsing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's record set in 2004 during a match against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. The stage for this monumental achievement was the Asia Cup 2023 Super Four contest, where India faced off against arch-rivals Pakistan at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
While Tendulkar reached the 13,000-run mark in his 321st ODI innings, Kohli made history in just his 267th, further solidifying his reputation as one of the game's greats.
But the milestones didn't stop there. The prodigious Delhi-born batter also celebrated his 47th ODI century, inching ever so close to Tendulkar's benchmark of 49 centuries in the 50-over format. The moment of elation came during the 48th over when, on Shaheen Shah Afridi's delivery, Kohli delicately placed the ball to the off side, reaching the prestigious three-figure mark.
On the way to another majestic century, Kohli played numerous glorious shots, but perhaps, his best hit came against Naseem Shah's delivery when he bent his right foot and unleashed a stunning hit over long on for a maximum. The shot was somewhat reminiscent of Kohli's shot against Haris Rauf at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during the T20 World Cup in 2022.
Watch the video here:
Kohli resumed his innings on the reserve day at the score of eight and went on to score 122 not out off 94 balls with the help of nine fours and three sixes. Kohli initially treaded carefully, reaching his half-century in 55 deliveries. However, post the fifty-run mark, the classic Kohli flair was on display. He shifted gears, launching an offensive against the Pakistani bowling lineup, underlining why he remains one of the most formidable batters in contemporary cricket.
Virat Kohli's latest record isn't just another statistic. It underscores a career built on discipline, consistency, and an insatiable hunger for runs. As he inches closer to Tendulkar's tally of ODI centuries, the cricketing world waits with bated breath, anticipating more record-breaking performances from this cricketing titan.
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Virat Kohli breaks Sachin Tendulkar's 19-year-old record, becomes fastest to 13,000 ODI runs
