Virat Kohli has been accused of being milestone-focused as he looked to get his hundred against Bangladesh in the 2023 ODI World Cup, but footage from 2017 could sway opinions.

On Thursday (October 15), India needed 15 runs to win against Bangladesh, with Kohli, on 85*, also needing the exact number to reach his 48th ODI ton. What followed was a passage of play where easy singles were denied by the two batters, Kohli and KL Rahul, as the former was given the license to score his hundred by his partner, which would eventually put him one below Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time ODI record.

Kohli reached the milestone with a six, but the incident had done enough to divide social media, with a few questioning the cricket on display, while others defended the former India skipper for aiming for the landmark with a comfortable win within reach.

What happened in 2017?

Only 32.5 overs were possible on the first two days of the rain-affected Test match, with India reaching 74-5. Then India skipper Kohli had been dismissed for a duck in the first innings, falling lbw to Suranga Lakmal. India were eventually bowled out for 172, with Cheteshwar Pujara being the only batter to score more than 30.

In reply, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 294, taking a lead of 122 runs. India, in the third innings, started off strongly with a 166-run stand for the first wicket. Kohli walked out to bat on day five following Pujara’s dismissal and scored quick runs as India eyed a declaration on the final day.

India had taken a lead of 222 at the end of 88 overs in the innings, with Kohli on 97* at the point. Eager to go for a win and give themselves enough overs to bowl out Sri Lanka, Kohli was seen gesturing to then-head coach Ravi Shastri, seemingly asking whether India should declare at that point.

How about that for sign language? Care to decode this conversation between the Captain and Coach? #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/cN54UzGJy8

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 20, 2017

Shastri gestured to Kohli to continue batting and reach his 18th Test hundred, which would also have been his 50th across all formats. Shastri was then seen talking to a member of the bench, seemingly asking him to run to Kohli and convey the message to get to his ton.

Four balls later, Kohli got to his hundred with a six before letting out a huge roar. India declared as soon as Kohli got to the milestone, giving Sri Lanka a target of 231. Kohli became the joint-fastest player to 50 international hundreds along with Hashim Amla, getting to the feat in 348 innings.

India reduced Sri Lanka to 75-7 before play was called off for the day.

Two years later, Kohli declared his innings on 254* against South Africa despite three days remaining in the Pune Test and India scoring a mammoth 601 in their first innings. They went on to win by an innings and 137 runs with a day to spare.

In 2016 during the first Test at Pune against England, Kohli decided to shake hands with Alastair Cook to signal a draw when on 49*.

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