Virat Kohli Reach New Heights with 43rd ODI Century during India vs West Indies 3rd ODI Match

Virat Kohli smashed records for the second successive time in four days. The Indian captain registered his 43rd ODI century during the 3rd ODI game between India and West Indies taking his tally to four ODI hundred in the Caribbean Island and making the first-ever batsman to do so. It was also the right-handed batsman’s second ODI century in as many matches. Kohli reached the milestone in 94 deliveries taking India closer to an ODI series victory and making it a double series win against the West Indies in their own backyard. West Indies vs India Highlights And Cricket Score.

Kohli’s innings consisted of 14 boundaries and helped India romp home to a 6-wicket win and with it seal the series 2-0. The Indian captain arrived at the crease when Rohit Sharma was dismissed in the third over following a mid-pitch confusion with opening partner Shikhar Dhawan. India Independence Day 2019 Greetings: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma And Other Team Members Wish Nation on 73rd I-Day.

The 30-year-old first rescued India’s chase with a vital 70-run partnership with Dhawan (36) and then stitched another 111-run stand with Shreyas Iyer (65) to give India the control in the third ODI game. It was a second consecutive century-run partnership between Kohli and Iyer and helped India chase down the 255-run target with 14 balls to spare. Enough of Rishabh Pant! Fans Troll Wicket-Keeper Batsman for First-Ball Duck. 

Courtesy his 43rd ODI century during the IND vs WI game at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Kohli now has the second-most number of ODI centuries as a skipper. He has 21 centuries in 67 innings as an India captain and is only behind Ricky Ponting, who recorded 22 ODI hundred in 220 innings. Sourav Ganguly is fourth in the illustrious list with 11 centuries as an India skipper.

Kohli is also now the first player to score 20,000 international runs in a single decade. From 2010 to 2019, Kohli has now scored 20,024 runs and is the first player to do so. The closest any cricketer had ever come to hitting 20,000 runs in a single decade before this was Ricky Ponting. The former Australia skipper had scored 18,962 international runs from 2000-2010. Kohli topped fellow Indians Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid to create this record.

Earlier, Khaleel Ahmed took 3/68 while Mohammed Shami returned with figures of 2/50 to limit West Indies to 240 runs in 35 overs after the game was shortened owing to rain delays. Irregular rain once again threatened to spoil the game before the match was eventually reduced to 35 overs per side. West Indies made 240 runs in their 35 overs and the target was revised to 255. But India romped home with 14 balls and six wickets to spare. India also sealed the series 2-0.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 15, 2019 04:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).