Kohli and Rahul’s 233-run partnership for India is highest in Asia Cup history
India defeated Pakistan by 228 runs in a one-sided Asia Cup Super Four match in Colombo. India posted a mammoth total of 356-2, thanks to unbeaten centuries by Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. Kohli scored 122 runs off 94 balls, while Rahul remained unbeaten on 111 off 106. Kohli also became the fastest batter to reach 13,000 ODI runs and achieved his 47th ODI century.
Pakistan’s batsmen never got going and finished on 128, falling short of the target by a huge margin. Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf were both absent through injury. This was India’s highest ever ODI total against Pakistan, and Kohli and Rahul’s partnership of 233* was the highest partnership in the history of the Asia Cup.
Kuldeep Yadav takes 5 wickets as Pakistan batsmen fail to get going
India’s left arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav took 5 wickets for 25 runs and made a mockery of Pakistan’s batting line-up following a brief rain interruption. Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya also picked up crucial wickets. India had reached 147-2 in 24.1 overs after half-centuries by skipper Rohit Sharma and fellow opener Shubman Gill on Sunday, but rain meant the match would finish on the reserve day and the runs continued to flow after a delayed start.
After the match, Rohit Sharma praised the fantastic batting performance by Kohli and Rahul and said that they knew the wicket was good and with two experienced batters in the middle, they knew they would get their eye in and then a terrific effort from both. Kohli and Rahul saw off the threat of Pakistan’s pace attack and targeted the spinners to post 356-2 in 50 overs
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After the match, Kohli said that he and Rahul are conventional players and their partnership was tough to break because they don’t play fancy shots. They didn’t think about the partnership too much, the idea was to keep batting. Kohli also praised Rahul’s form and said it was good for the team.
KL Rahul returns to form with 111-run knock
KL Rahul returned to the Indian cricket team after a quadriceps injury in May and played his first competitive game in nearly four months. He played a watchful innings and took his time to settle in. After the 30th over, Rahul started hitting and punished both Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed.
India raised the tempo amid the threat of more showers and cruised to the 300-run mark in 45 overs before Rahul reached his sixth hundred and raised his bat like a sword. Kohli then became the fastest batter to reach 13,000 ODI runs and achieve his 47th ODI century, reaching the mark on his 84th delivery.
The cricketing superstar of India Virat Kohli became the fifth batsman to score 13,000 runs in the format and the quickest to do so. He celebrated his century by pumping his fists and raising his hands to the cheers of the crowd at the R Premadasa Stadium.
