India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2023: Virat Kohli breaks Sachin Tendulkar's record, becomes fastest to reach 13,000 ODI runs
PTC Web Desk: In the Asia Cup 2023 match between India and Pakistan on Monday, Virat Kohli, the prominent batsman of the Indian cricket team, achieved a remarkable milestone in ODI cricket. The 34-year-old cricketer became the fastest player to reach 13,000 runs in ODI cricket, accomplishing this feat in just 267 innings. This achievement surpasses the previous world record held by the legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who reached 13,000 runs in 321 innings.
Virat Kohli's outstanding performance allowed him to break this record during the match against Pakistan. Notably, Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting is currently third on the list, having taken 341 innings to reach the 13,000-run mark in ODI cricket.
In the Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 match against Pakistan on Monday, Team India posted a commanding total of 356/2 in their allotted 50 overs, thanks to explosive centuries from Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. When the play resumed on Monday, India was at 147/2, and Virat Kohli and KL Rahul displayed a fearless approach as they launched a relentless assault on the Pakistani bowlers all around the field.
Kohli concluded his innings at an unbeaten 122 runs from 94 balls, while Rahul remained not out with a brilliant 111 runs off 106 balls. In addition to their outstanding performance, Shubman Gill contributed 58 runs, and Rohit Sharma added 56 runs to India's imposing total. Pakistan's bowling effort saw Shadab Khan and Shaheen Afridi managing to take one wicket each.
Earlier, India resumed the play at 147-2 on the reserved day as rain interrupted the match on Sunday. KL Rahul (17*) and Virat Kohli (8*) were at the crease on Sunday when the play had to be stopped due to rain.
Shadab Khan bowled the first over of the game on Monday and gave away just four runs. Rahul and Kohli then shifted gears and kept taking singles while looking for boundaries. The duo gave a steady start to Team India on the reserve day.
Pakistan bowlers tried to restrict scoring, but Indian players kept scoring at a steady pace.
Rahul brought up his half-century in his comeback game after returning from injury and the duo brought up a 100-run partnership. Rahul kept up the momentum and smashed a six and four as Shadab Khan conceded 14 runs.
Kohli also kept the score board ticking and scored his 66th ODI fifty. The talisman brought up his half-century in 55 balls. Pakistan bowlers had no answer to the Indian duo's range of shots. In the 40 overs, the Indian dup took their team's total to 250/2.
The 'Men in Green' missed out on a brilliant opportunity to get a breakthrough as Faheem Ashraf failed to run out KL Rahul. Kohli and Rahul Rahul ran for a double and while coming to the non-striker's end, the wicketkeeper-batter was a mile away before the ball reached Ashraf. However, Ashraf failed to grab it properly as he dropped the ball and removed the wickets with his hands.
Haris Rauf's absence hurt Pakistan as Rahul-Kohli took Iftikhar Ahmed for 46 in his 5 overs.
In the 47th over, Rahul took a double off Naseem Shah's delivery and brought up his ton in as many balls. The crunch games bring out the best in Kohli and he slammed a brilliant century in just 84 balls, his 77th century in international cricket.
With a stylish four of four off Shaheen Afridi's delivery, Rahul brought up the 200-run partnership.
The duo kept adding runs and took India's total to 356-2 in 50 overs as Kohli finished the innings with a stylish six off Faheem Ashraf's delivery.
On Sunday, India got a flying start with the opening pair of skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill scoring 121 runs.
Shaheen Shaf Afridi and Shadab Khan claimed a wicket apiece to bring Pakistan back into the game after the India openers sent them on a leather hunt in the initial overs.
Rohit (56) fell to a soft dismissal off Shadab while Gill (58) perished in the next over, failing to read a slower one from Shaheen and lobbing a catch to Agha Salman at extra cover.
Brief score: India 356/2 (Virat Kohli 122*, KL Rahul 111; Shaheen Afridi 1-79) vs Pakistan.
- With inputs from agencies
