(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] In a display of unwavering determination, Virat Kohli, widely hailed as the world’s best ODI batter, showcased his prowess on the grandest stage – the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 against Australia at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
Despite India losing early wickets, including Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer, within just 62 balls, the team managed to accumulate 81 runs.
As the match teetered on the edge, the seasoned Kohli shouldered the responsibility and crafted a composed 54-run innings off 63 balls, steering India through a challenging situation. This innings marked Kohli’s 72nd ODI half-century and a historic feat as he became the first Indian batter to record 50-plus scores in both the semi-final and final in the 48-year history of the ODI World Cup.
Notably, Kohli’s stellar performance wasn’t a one-off; he had recently played a pivotal role in the semi-final against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium, where his century propelled the Men in Blue into the World Cup final.
Joining an elite club, Kohli also became the seventh player to achieve a 50-plus score in both the semi-final and final of a single World Cup edition. This exclusive list includes cricket legends such as Mike Brearley (1979), David Boon (1987), Javed Miandad (1992), Aravinda de Silva (1996), Grant Elliot (2015) and Steve Smith (2015).
Adding to the intrigue, Kohli’s consistency in World Cups is unparalleled. In the 2019 edition, he recorded five consecutive 50-plus scores, a feat he replicated in the ongoing 2023 World Cup. Steve Smith remains the only other player to achieve five consecutive 50-plus scores in a World Cups, accomplishing the feat in 2015.