Asia Cup 2023: Virat Kohli has a remarkable record at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, where he averages 128.20 in ODIs. He scored his fourth consecutive century at this venue during the Asia Cup Super Four match against Pakistan.
Like many of his previous notable innings, this inning was also full of incredible statistics and records, which showcased his extraordinary ability as a cricketer. In this article, we will discuss the five most notable statistics behind Kohli’s brilliant century against Pakistan.
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Colombo Love: A Fort Unsurpassed
Virat Kohli’s love affair with Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium is no less than a legend. His average of 128.20 at this position in ODIs is astonishing, the highest average by any batsman after nine or more innings at the same position in ODI history.
Apart from this, Kohli has scored four consecutive centuries on this very ground, which is a proof of his dominance on Sri Lankan soil.
Kohli’s affinity for the position extends across all formats, where he has maintained a healthy T20I average of 53.4 with three half-centuries in six matches.
Interestingly, he has not graced the R Premadasa Stadium in a single Test match yet, leaving cricket fans wondering what other records he can create if he gets the chance.
Virat Kohli becomes the fastest to reach 13,000 ODI runs
Reaching 13,000 runs in One Day Internationals (ODIs) is no small feat, but Kohli achieved this milestone in a truly extraordinary manner.
He achieved this feat in just 267 innings, leaving behind cricketing greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Mahela Jayawardene and Sanath Jayasuriya.
To put it in perspective, Tendulkar, one of the greatest players to grace the game, took 321 innings to reach the same milestone.
Kohli averages an astonishing 57.62 in ODIs, second only to Babar Azam among those with 100-plus appearances in the format. This remarkable record cements his status as one of the greatest ODI batsmen of all time.
Highest partnerships for India vs Pakistan in ODIs: An unstoppable saga
During the same match against Pakistan, Kohli was part of a record-breaking partnership with KL Rahul, scoring 233 not out.
This partnership not only broke records but also became the biggest partnership by India against Pakistan in the ODI.
This overtook the previous record set by Navjot Singh Sidhu and Sachin Tendulkar, which was 231 runs in 1996.
This unbeaten partnership between Kohli and Rahul is India’s second-highest partnership for the third wicket in ODIs, made at a breathtaking run rate of 7.24 runs per over.
His performance is recorded in history as the third-fastest double-century partnership against Pakistan in ODIs.
Joint highest total against Pakistan: A brilliant batting performance
The Kohli-Rahul partnership took India to a mammoth score of 356 runs in the same match, equaling India’s joint-highest score against Pakistan in ODIs, previously achieved in Vizag in 2005.
This total is among the top ten highest scores ever made against Pakistan. In men’s ODI matches, a historic achievement.
Furthermore, it is the highest score ever against Pakistan at a neutral venue in ODIs, underscoring India’s dominance in that particular encounter.
Kohli’s Asia Cup record: A legacy in the making
In 14 Asia Cup ODI matches, Virat Kohli has created a legacy with an astonishing average of 67.18 with four centuries.
His strike rate in the tournament has consistently been over 100, which shows his ability to not only score runs but do so at an impressive pace.
Kohli’s number of centuries puts him jointly second with Kumar Sangakkara in the Asia Cup records, behind only Kumar Jayasuriya, who has six centuries to his name.
Notably, Kohli’s score of 183 against Pakistan in the 2012 edition of the tournament is still the highest individual score in Asia Cup history.
Also Read: Asia Cup 2023: Pakistani Pacer Haris Rauf Ruled Out of IND vs PAK Match Due to Injury
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