IND vs PAK, Asia Cup 2023: Virat Kohli surpasses Sachin Tendulkar to set massive world record in ODIs

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• Sep 11, 2023 | Dhupali Das

The 34-year-old maestro surpassed the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's record to become the fastest to reach 13,000 runs in ODI cricket...

Digital Desk: Indian cricket team's star batter, Virat Kohli, achieved a historic milestone during the Asia Cup 2023 match between India and Pakistan on Monday, leaving cricket enthusiasts in awe. The 34-year-old maestro surpassed the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's record to become the fastest to reach 13,000 runs in one-day international (ODI) cricket. This remarkable feat came in his 267th inning, eclipsing Tendulkar's previous world record of 321 innings. Australia's Ricky Ponting follows closely in third place, having taken 341 innings to score 13,000 ODI runs.

Kohli's astonishing journey to this record was highlighted by his sensational innings against Pakistan, where he remained unbeaten on 122 runs from 94 balls. Alongside him, KL Rahul also made an indelible mark on the game, finishing unbeaten with 111 runs from 106 balls. Together, they powered India to an imposing total of 356/2 in 50 overs against their arch-rivals Pakistan in a crucial Super 4 match.

Virat Kohli's exceptional performance in Colombo continued a stunning streak of four consecutive centuries at the R Premadasa Stadium. His recent scores at the venue include 128* (119 balls), 131 (96 balls), and 110* (116 balls).

Kohli and Rahul's partnership was not only record-breaking but also historic for the Asia Cup. Their 233-run stand surpassed the previous best of 224 runs, held by Pakistan's Mohammad Hafeez and N Jamshed against India in 2012.

Shubman Gill, a young talent in the Indian cricket team, lauded the duo's exceptional performance, particularly highlighting KL Rahul's comeback from injury. He said, "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. Obviously, Virat Bhai also completed his century and got to 13,000 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."

Gill also spoke about the challenging conditions, stating, "I think he (Shaheen) was trying to attack the wickets, and I wanted to show intent. It 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."

Virat Kohli's achievement not only marks a glorious moment in his career but also cements his legacy as one of cricket's all-time greats. His relentless pursuit of excellence continues to inspire cricket fans worldwide.