Delighted by Indian superstar Virat Kohli’s 110-ball 166 against Sri Lanka on Sunday, a fan stormed onto the field and touched his hero’s feet as the rest of the Rohit Sharma-led team looked on.
The picture which went viral within minutesshows a stunned Virat Kohli trying to get away from a fan as his India teammates watch the event unfold before their eyes.
A fan entered the field and touched Virat Kohli’s feet. pic.twitter.com/wualIoFgZ8
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 15, 2023
Talking about the game, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill smashed centuries to put India on the board with a mammoth total of 390/5. In reply, the Sri Lankans were bowled out for just 73 runs to hand India a 317-run win, the biggest in ODI cricket history.
Virat Kohli smashed multiple records on his way to his 46th ODI and 74th international century against the Dasun Shanaka-led side in Kerala this weekend.
The ton was his 21st at home in the sport’s second-longest format, one short of Sachin Tendulkar’s previous mark of 20.
During his sensational innings, Virat Kohli also overtook Sri Lankan legend Mahela Jayawardene to become the fifth highest run-getter in ODIs. With 12,754 runs, Virat Kohli is now behind only Sachin Tendulkar (18,426), Kumar Sangakkara (14,234), Ricky Ponting (13,704) and Sanath Jayasuriya (13,430).
The Indian superstar looked in splendid touch during his unbeaten innings of 166 off 110 deliveries as he cruised to his 74th international century overall.
During his blistering knock in the Kerala capital, Virat Kohli showed different measures of his prowess as he smashed eight sixes, including one that went as far as 97 metres.
It is the most sixes hit by a former India captain in an ODI innings. Apart from eight hits over the fence, the Delhi-born cricketer’s knock included 13 boundaries.
The majestic Virat Kohli completed his hundred in 85 deliveries but changed gears immediately after completing the landmark. 166 is his highest score at home and second highest in one-day internationals.
Virat Kohli also became the first non-opener to have 5 scores of 150+ in ODIs.
Moreover, Virat Kohli is the fastest to score 46 centuries in ODI cricket, a milestone he achieved in just 259 innings. On the other hand, former record holder Sachin Tendulkar needed 431 innings to get there.
It was his 10th century against Sri Lanka, making him the first man to score so many tons against a single team in ODIs. Earlier, he and Sachin Tendulkar were tied for nine triple figures against Sri Lanka, West Indies and Australia respectively.
Earlier in the series, when he hit his 9th hundred against Sri Lanka, he became the only cricketer to have so many triple-digit scores against two international teams. Kohli also has nine tons against the West Indies.
Virat Kohli has been in a sensational nick lately. It was his third hundred in his last four games, including his 44th ODI hundred against Bangladesh in December, ending a nearly three-year drought in the format.
Meanwhile, in his first reaction to his 46th ODI hundred, Virat Kohli seemed extremely happy with his display with the bat.
“I have no idea (about player of the series awards). For me, it’s just a byproduct of my intention, a mindset I play with. The mindset is always for the team to win, bat for as long as possible, and if you do that, you’ll make a difference eventually,” he told Star Sports in the post-match presentation.
“I always played for the right reasons, to help the team as much as possible. It’s just an intention to play for the right reasons. Ever since I came back from a long break, I feel good. “I’m not too desperate to reach the milestone. I just enjoy my scrimmage, being in an area where I can relax. Today (Sunday) too, I was just happy to be out there batting. I’m in a good place now and I want this to continue,” he added.
Fans also responded to his blistering hundred.
“King Kohli’s dominance in Kerala, 166* runs from just 110 balls, take a bow, GOAT,” one fan responded on Twitter.
Another fan added. “What a show by Virat Kohli – 166* off just 110 balls with 13 fours and 8 sixes. A dominant innings, what a player. Humble yourself, King of Kohli.
“Comparing Virat Kohli to a guy like Babar Azam is a disgrace to cricket,” wrote a third.
“Great to see Virat Kohli at his best in white-ball cricket, this unbeaten 166 was special even by his lofty standards,” concluded the fourth.
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