Guwahati: India’s star batsman Virat Kohli scored a stunning 113 runs in the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Guwahati yesterday. It was his 45th century in ODIs. At the same time, this was the 20th century scored by Virat Kohli on home soil. Only Sachin Tendulkar had scored 20 centuries on home soil before this. Virat Kohli now shares the feat with Tendulkar.
Virat Kohli has reached this milestone in 99 innings. Sachin Tendulkar had scored 20 centuries in 160 innings. South Africa’s Hashim Amla and Australia’s Ricky Ponting are next to him on the world cricket stage. Both of them had scored 14 centuries each on home soil.
Virat Kohli has broken another record of Sachin. Sachin was the only Indian player to score 8 centuries against Sri Lanka. This record has now been broken by Virat Kohli. Virat Kohli’s century in Guwahati yesterday was his 9th century against Sri Lanka.
Among the players currently playing, Virat Kohli has emerged as the ‘King of Centuries’. So far, Virat Kohli has scored 73 centuries in all formats of cricket such as Tests (27 centuries), ODIs (45 centuries), T20 cricket (one century). He is followed by Australia’s David Warner with 45 centuries, England’s Joe Root with 44 centuries, Australia’s Steve Smith with 42 centuries and India’s captain Rohit Sharma with 41 centuries.
Talking about the century, Virat Kohli said, “After a little rest and two practice sessions, I took the field in the first ODI against Sri Lanka. The openers did well so I played my normal game and managed to keep the strike rate under control. I took full advantage of two missed catches. Luck plays a big part. We should thank God for this,” he said.
