NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli expressed his delight in experiencing the "special feeling" of competing in a World Cup on home soil after his unbeaten century led India to a seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh, bringing him within reach of Sachin Tendulkar's record for one-day international centuries.
Kohli's 48th one-day international century left him just one short of matching India's great Tendulkar's historic record of 49 centuries at this level. He reached this milestone with a shot that cleared the boundary for six off spinner Nasum Ahmed, sealing a great finish as India achieved a target of 257 with over eight overs to spare.
Kohli faced 97 balls, including six boundaries and four sixes, making this century his third score exceeding fifty in four innings, following contributions of 85 and 55 not out against Australia and Afghanistan.
"I've had a few fifties in World Cups and haven't converted them so I just wanted to finish the game off this time around," Kohli stated.
"The pitch was pretty good, it allowed me to play my game and just hit the gaps."
1/10:World Cup: Virat Kohli leads India stat attack against Bangladesh
AFP
2/10:Virat Kohli
<p>Virat Kohli posted his 48th hundred in ODIs — his third in the World Cup and his first while chasing in World Cups - during India’s seven-wicket victory against Bangladesh in Pune on Thursday. </p>AFP
3/10:Set to go past Sachin
<p>Virat Kohli is now just one short of Sachin Tendulkar's world record of 49 tons. </p>Reuters
4/10:The chase master
<p>Virat Kohli extended his tally of hundreds while chasing to 23 in 95 innings in ODIs — his aggregate being 5691 (ave 90.33) at a strike rate of 97.26. </p>AP
5/10:Record fifties
<p>Virat Kohli now has 212 fifty-plus scores in 567 innings in international cricket, bettering the 211 in 617 innings by Jacques Kallis. </p>AP
6/10:Elite club
<p>Just three batters have posted more such innings than Virat Kohli — Sachin Tendulkar (264), Ricky Ponting (217) and Kumar Sangakkara (216). </p>AFP
7/10:40 hundreds
<p>Virat Kohli became the first batter to hit 40 hundreds in a winning cause in 167 innings in ODIs. Sachin Tendulkar has the next best tally in wins — 33 in 231 innings. </p>PTI
8/10:ODI record
<p>Virat Kohli's career average of 58.00 while aggregating 13342 runs in 273 innings is a record in ODIs (minimum qualification: 3000 runs). </p>PTI
9/10:Rohit Sharma
<p>Rohit Sharma's runs' tally of 265 at an average of 66.25, including a hundred and a fifty, in four innings, at a strike rate of 137.30 is the highest by any batter in this World Cup. </p>AP
10/10:Shubman Gill
<p>Shubman Gill's back to back fifty-plus innings (53) against Bangladesh is his tenth fifty in ODIs - his first in the World Cup. </p>PTIIndia have won all four of their matches in the tournament thus far.
"There is a great atmosphere in the changing room, we're loving each other's company, the spirit is there for everyone to see on the field," said Kohli, who played alongside Tendulkar in the India team that defeated Sri Lanka in the 2011 World Cup final in Mumbai.
"We understand it's a long tournament and you need to create some momentum for the guys to come out and play like this.
"It's a special feeling playing at home in front of all these people, and we just want to make the most of it."
This century was Kohli's first in the World Cup since his 107 against Pakistan during the 2015 edition in Adelaide, with the 34-year-old posting seven fifties at the tournament before this hundred.
KL Rahul's composed innings of 34 not out played a significant role in helping Kohli reach his century. Rahul kept himself in check during his innings.
Shortly before Kohli reached his century, a Nasum delivery down the leg side was not called a wide, leading to a brief moment of confusion. However, the ensuing six resolved any concerns.
"He (Kohli) was confused, he said 'it'll not look too nice not to take the single, it's still a World Cup, and it's still a big stage. I don't want to look like I am just trying to get the milestone,'" Rahul told Star Sports.
"But I said, I mean it is not won but still I think we'll win quite easily, so if you can get to the milestone why not, you must try. And he did that in the end. I wasn't going to run the singles anyway."
Shubman Gill, who contributed 53 runs and partnered with Rohit Sharma for an 88-run opening stand, followed by a 44-run partnership with Kohli, described batting with the duo as an enlightening experience.
"I think there's a fine line between sometimes being too aggressive or going in the shell, especially playing big games.
"But I think the way they play, the way their mindset is playing those big games in the World Cup is what I try to learn."
(With AFP inputs)
