Virat Kohli adds another captivating chapter to his scintillating streak
India’s batting megastar Virat Kohli was at his blistering best at the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, January 15 as he notched up his new second-highest ODI score (166* off 110 balls) beating his former score of 160* against South Africa in Cape Town.
With his sensational knock, Kohli added another chapter to a scintillating streak. It is Kohli’s fourth overall ton on January 15 – a streak very few are aware of.
1st ODI, Pune, India vs England
The streak started off on January 15, 2017 when he struck a match-winning hundred against England in the first ODI. Chasing a mammoth total of 351 runs for victory, both Kedar Jadhav and the then-skipper Virat got their act together and stitched a 200-run stand for the fifth wicket. Kohli got his hundred off 93 balls and scored 122 runs off 105 deliveries before getting dismissed.
Kedar was terrific with the bat too as he scored 120 runs off 76 balls. And by virtue of twin centuries from both batters India scaled the target with 11 balls to spare.
2nd Test, Centurion, January 13-17, 2018
Hosts South Africa having scored 335 in their first innings after winning the toss at the Supersport Park in Centurion in the second Test of the series. India needed its batters to step up to the challenge against the likes of Rabada, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander.
On a wicket that had a fair amount of assistance for the pacers, Kohli hung in there and notched up a memorable ton and scored 153 off 217 deliveries before getting out to Morne Morkel. His majestic ton came on January 15 and kept India in the game as the deficit between both sides after the end of their respective first innings was just 28 runs.
However, India lost the game by 135 runs as they got bundled out for just 151 runs while chasing 287. Kohli’s superb century is still fresh in the minds of fans.
2nd ODI, Adelaide, Australia vs India
Kohli built onto the streak further as he scored another match-winning ton in the second ODI against Australia in 2019. Chasing a competitive total of 299, Virat did what he does best and scored another remarkable ton in the run chase.
His knock of 104 off 112 balls included five fours and two sixes and took the game away from the Aussies. India won the game by six wickets and four balls to spare. Virat was declared the Player of the Match for this outstanding knock.
3rd ODI, Thiruvananthapuram, India vs Sri Lanka
The latest addition to the spectacular streak happens to be his 46th ODI ton against Sri Lanka and has given India an upper hand in the ongoing third ODI. It was Kohli’s knock alongside Gill’s century that propelled India to 390 at the end of the 50-over mark and, might even help the Rohit Sharma-led side to register a clean sweep in the series.
