Virat Kohli celebrates after reaching the century mark against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2023© AFP
Indian cricket team star batter Virat Kohli surpassed Sachin Tendulkar to achieve a sensational record in ODI cricket during the Asia Cup 2023 match between India and Pakistan on Monday. The 34-year-old became the fastest to reach 13,000 runs in ODI cricket as he reached the milestone in his 267th innings. The world record previously belonged to legendary India batter Sachin Tendulkar, who achieved the feat in 321 innings but Kohli was able to shatter the existing record with a brilliant knock against Pakistan. Australia great Ricky Ponting is third in the list as he took 341 innings to score 13,000 ODI runs.
Virat Kohli ultimately stayed unbeaten on 122 (94b) while KL Rahul ended on unbeaten 111* (106b) as India scored a massive 356/2 in 50 overs against Pakistan in a crucial Super 4 match.
This was Virat Kohli`s four successive century at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. His scores from the last three matches at the venue reads 128*(119b), 131(96b) and 110*(116b).
Virat Kohli and KL Rahul also set a new Asia Cup (ODI) record as they stitched a 233-run stand. The broke the record of Pakistan`s Mohammad Hafeez and N Jamshed, who scored a 224-run stand against India in 2012. Virat Kohli now has equalled Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara`s record of four centuries in Asia Cup. Only Sanath Jayasuriya (6) has more tons in the continental event.
The duo`s performance was praised by Shubman Gill.
"Very special for us. He (Rahul) was playing his first match after coming back from injury and to be able to score a century in these conditions was pretty magnificent," he said.
"Obviously Virat Bhai also completed his century and got to 13000 runs which shows his great inspiration to all of us. The ball was doing a little bit in the initial period and they also bowled well with the new ball, but it was important for us to take them on and put the bad balls away to put the pressure back on them.
"I think he (Shaheen) was trying to attack the wickets and I wanted to show intent, worked for me yesterday. There`s a bit of seam movement and once the ball gets older we have to mix it up with slower ones, I found it difficult when they were mixing up their length and pace."
