The Run machine equals the Master Blaster on his special day. Virat Kohli scored his 49th international century in ODI format.
King Kohli approached the game with a great sensibility. The run rate in the first power play was 9.3 runs per over. That gave India the necessary cushion to play the spinners with more caution. Kohli and company scored 33 runs in the next 10 overs.
India has 2 cricketing legends of the white ball cricket. The great ‘Sachin Tendulkar’ and the run machine Kohli. In the current scenario, apart from Rohit Sharma, there isn’t any contender for Sachin’s record in white ball cricket. Rohit currently possesses 31 centuries in the format. 18 short from Sachin.
Read about What’s Next for Men in Blue.
Criticism of Kohli
Virat didn’t perform to his full potential. He has a long career ahead of him to convert those 90s into centuries and be the legend of the game. The question arises when the player, plays for his century rather than scoring runs for the country. This is a valid argument. The way Kohli approached the game raised a lot of eyebrows.
A player isn’t above the game. When that happens, the game isn’t what it is supposed to be in the first place. Virat is a match-winner for the side. No one doubts that, he indeed is a match winner. India is blessed to have a cricketer like him. But, the acceleration that was required at the final stage of the innings wasn’t there in the approach. Ravindra Jadeja with the skillful shot took the innings ahead and finished for India at a safe space.
Jadeja took 5 wicket haul in the match. A true matcher winner indeed. Critics argue that player of the match should have been awarded to Jadeja as his scored runs for the side as well.
King Kohli is effortless in scoring run with the bat. But scoring runs should the priority, rather than scoring century. Nation above individual.
Journey Ahead
Virat has 79 International centuries across format. Sachin Tendulkar has 100 international centuries. Virat is 21 short from achieving this feet. If the current form of the run machine continues, possibilities are endless.
Comments 38