Indian cricket fans all around the world will remember the day of September 11, 2023 fondly as it was the day when ‘King’ Virat Kohli scored his 47th ODI century against arch-rivals Pakistan in a must-win Super 4 clash in the Asia Cup 2023. The match was played over 2 days on September 10 and 11 but it was on the 2nd day when Kohli completed a blazing century off just 84 balls at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Team India were off to a flying start in this India vs Pakistan contest with skipper Rohit Sharma taking charge with 56 off 49 balls with four sixes and 6 fours and putting on 121 for the opening wicket with Shubman Gill, who scored 58 off 52 balls. But India lost a couple of quick wickets before rain when KL Rahul, returning from injury, joined forces with Virat Kohli.
Rahul and Kohli put on unbeaten 233 runs for the third wicket – both scoring scintillating centuries as India posted a massive 356 for 2 after batting first. Kohli started off slowly in the contest, looking to steady the ship, reaching his 50 off 55 balls with just 4 boundaries.
But the former India captain stepped on the acclerator in the second half of his innings, completing the next fifty off 29 balls with 2 sixes and 6 fours in his ton, ultimately scoring 122 off just 94 balls. Rahul ended up with 111 not out off 106 balls with 2 sixes and 12 fours.
Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 122 runs against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023, Fox 501HD highlights.pic.twitter.com/zOGS1buLXT
— Anshul (@Kingkohlicraze) September 10, 2024
“I always prepared my game in a way I can help the team. Today was a classic example of you don’t get off to a good start… KL (Rahul) started better, I was trying to bring him on strike and playing second fiddle. And yes, then after that I stepped up where I could. I take a lot of pride in fitness. Pushing for doubles are easy runs, compared to a big shot. It has paid off before, hope to continue in the same way,” Kohli had said after the match.
“Both KL and myself are both conventional players. And when you have him batting the way he was and me playing, its tough to break these partnerships because we don’t play fancy shots. We didn’t think about the partnership too much, the idea was to ‘keep batting’. It is one of the memorable partnerships we’ve had and for Indian cricket as well,” Kohli added.
India went on to win the contest by a massive margin of 228 runs with Kuldeep Yadav claiming 5/25 in 8 overs as Pakistan were restricted to 128 for 8 in 32 overs, with 2 batters out injured.
