Virat Kohli produced a commanding performance as India opened their three-match ODI series against the West Indies with an eight-wicket win in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday. Chasing 296, India reached 300 for 2 in just 41.4 overs, with Kohli remaining unbeaten on 139 off 88 balls.
Kohli’s innings was a blend of patience, timing and calculated aggression as he took charge of India’s chase. After Rohit Sharma gave India a brisk start with 32, Kohli joined Shubman Gill and quickly settled into the chase. The pair took their time early on before putting the West Indies attack under increasing pressure.
IND vs WI, 1st ODI: HIGHLIGHTS
KOHLI, GILL PUT INDIA IN CONTROL
Kohli and Gill stitched together a 151-run partnership for the second wicket, laying the foundation for a comfortable chase. Gill played the role of aggressor at times, scoring 110 off 108 balls, while Kohli rotated the strike and punished loose deliveries whenever they came his way.
Kohli brought up his half-century off 40 balls and continued to increase the tempo as the innings progressed. Once he found his rhythm, the boundaries began to flow, with the former India captain displaying the range of strokes that have made him one of the most dependable ODI batters.
Kohli eventually finished unbeaten, hitting 10 fours and nine sixes. His knock came at a strike rate of more than 157 and provided the perfect finishing touch to India’s dominant chase. Gaikwad stayed unbeaten alongside him as India reached the target with ease.
Earlier, Justin Greaves’ 101 and John Campbell’s 62 helped the West Indies post 295 for 7. Kuldeep Yadav produced an important spell, taking four wickets for 40 runs and preventing the visitors from pushing the total beyond India’s reach.
During his incredible knock, Kohli also surpassed records held by Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar while reaching several other landmarks.
Here are some records that Kohli made in the 1st ODI against the West Indies
13 – Virat Kohli equalled the record for most centuries in international cricket against the West Indies. Sunil Gavaskar scored 13 hundreds in 38 matches, while Kohli reached the mark in 74 matches.
10 – Virat Kohli equalled his own record for the most ODI centuries against a single team. He has also scored 10 ODI hundreds against Sri Lanka.
15000 – Kohli became the second batter and the fastest to reach 15000 ODI runs. He reached the landmark in 303 innings, going past Sachin Tendulkar’s 377 innings.
74 – Kohli notched his third-fastest century in ODIs. His fastest came off 52 balls against Australia in Jaipur in 2013, followed by a 61-ball century against the same opponent in Nagpur in the same year.
7006 – Virat Kohli now holds the record for the most ODI runs in a home country. In India, Kohli has amassed 7,006 runs in 131 matches at an average of 63.69, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of 6,976 runs on Indian soil.
60 – Virat Kohli has equalled Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most List A centuries. Kohli has 60 List A centuries from 351 matches. England’s Graham Gooch is 3rd with 44 centuries followed by Kumar Sangakkara (39).
200 – Virat Kohli also reached the landmark of 200 sixes in ODIs.
9 – Virat Kohli hit the most sixes in an innings in his ODI career. In 2023, he smashed eight sixes against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram.
25 – Virat Kohli has scored his 25th century in a successful ODI run chase, extending his lead over second-placed Sachin Tendulkar, who has 14 centuries.
– Ends
