As India prepares to play Sri Lanka in the second One-Day International at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday, all eyes will be on Virat Kohli. After being given the opportunity to bat first, Kohli pounded 113 off 87 balls to lead India to 373-7 despite two dropped catches on 52 and 81. It was Kohli’s 45th ODI century, putting him just four from matching Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 tonnes in the format. Kohli aims for yet another significant accomplishment ahead of the second ODI. He is currently seventh all-time in ODI run-scoring, 67 runs behind former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene.
While Jayawardene finished his career with 12,650 runs in 433 innings, Kohli has so far hit 12,584 runs in 257 ODI innings. Kohli would overtake Tendulkar (20) in the chart for most ODI hundreds scored for India on home soil if he ends up getting another century on Thursday. Since breaking out of a protracted dry spell last year, when he opened up about his mental issues during the period, Kohli has already scored two hundreds in as many ODIs.
“The one thing I learnt was desperation doesn’t get you anywhere,” Kohli said on lessons learnt during his slump in form. “You go out there and play without any fear. You go out there playing for the right reasons and almost play every game like it’s your last and just be happy about it. He added: “I can’t hold on to things, the game is going to move on. I am not going to play forever. I am in a happy space and enjoying my game.”
