It was centuries galore for India during their third ODI against Sri Lanka after Virat Kohli completed his century, his third in four matches, and his second in the ongoing series, at the Greenfield International Stadium in Trivandrum on Sunday, January 15. Kohli became the first player to 10 ODI centuries against a single opponent, as the former India skipper turned back the clock with the shots that he played.
He was also the second player to hit a century for India on the day, joining opener Shubman Gill in scoring a ton.
In doing so, Kohli continued his brilliant form in 2023, clearly pushing aside the blues that kept him from scoring in the last couple of years. He took just 85 balls to complete his century, and also broke the record for the most centuries at home, going one more than Sachin Tendulkar's 21.
Back to the limelight
The former India skipper ended his three-year ton drought during their tour of Bangladesh in December 2022 and backed it up with a 113 in the first game of the 3-match ODI series against Sri Lanka in Guwahati on January 7. He was poor in the second ODI, getting out for just four and missing a hat-trick of ODI hundreds for the second time in his career, but up made for it in style in the third ODI.
Earlier, Gill partnered skipper Rohit Sharma to a 95-run partnership before Rohit lost his wicket for 42 runs. Gill continued the onslaught with Kohli, as the two batters took the Sri Lanka bowlers to the cleaners.
Kohli also completed his half-century a ball before Gill. Then the two batters put Jeffrey Vandersay under the blade, with the duo smashing a combined 17 runs — including 4 fours — as they continued to pile the pressure on their opponents.
Gill falls
With Gill looking strong, trotting toward a big score and taking India with him, the Sri Lankans needed a fast breakthrough. It was then that pacer Kasun Rajitha did the needful to send Gill back to the pavilion after scoring 116 runs off 97 deliveries, with a ball that was low as the Gujarat Titans (GT) batter charged forward to expose his stumps as the ball crashed into off and middle.
His massive partnership of 131 runs with Kohli earned Gill major applause. He even received a pat on his back from the former India skipper,
