Virat Kohli’s exceptional 95-run innings led India to a thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand, maintaining their flawless record with five wins in the ongoing World Cup.
Kohli nearly equaled Sachin Tendulkar’s remarkable record of 49 one-day international centuries, falling just five runs short. Prior to India’s successful run chase, fast bowler Mohammed Shami shone, delivering an outstanding performance with figures of 5/54 to dismiss New Zealand for 273 runs.
In the chase, Kohli played a pivotal role, forming significant partnerships, including a crucial 78-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja, who ultimately secured the victory with an unbeaten 39 runs, including the winning boundary.
During his innings, Kohli achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Indian player to accumulate 3,000 runs across all ICC white-ball tournaments, encompassing the 50-over World Cup, T20 World Cup, and Champions Trophy.
Kohli’s World Cup record includes three centuries and nine half-centuries in 31 matches, making him the fourth-highest run-scorer in the history of the tournament and India’s second-highest run-getter. In the Champions Trophy, he boasts 529 runs in 13 matches with a remarkable average of 88.16, and in T20 World Cups, he has amassed 1,141 runs at an impressive average of 81.50.
Notably, Kohli has surpassed the legendary Sanath Jayasuriya to become the fourth-highest run-scorer in ODIs, accumulating 13,437 runs in 286 matches with an impressive strike rate of 93.69. Sachin Tendulkar remains the all-time leading run-scorer in ODIs with 18,426 runs and holds the record for the most centuries in the format with 49 to his name.
Furthermore, Kohli has joined the elite group of batters with the second-highest number of 50+ scores in World Cup history (12), surpassing Ricky Ponting and Rohit Sharma and equaling Kumar Sangakkara and Shakib Al Hasan. Sachin Tendulkar stands at the top of this list with an astonishing 21 fifty-plus scores to his name.
