World Cup 2023: Virat Kohli falls just short of record-equaling 49th ODI century for second time in three games

Having already scored a hundred and two 80-plus scores, including a 95 against New Zealand in Dharamsala, Kohli had another opportunity to equal Tendulkar’s world record of 49 ODI hundreds today.

Batting on 88 off 93 balls, Kohli looked well set to reach the three-figure mark for the second time at the 2023 World Cup. However, Dilshan Madushanka induced a false shot off Kohli with another off-cutter, having already taken the wicket of Rohit Sharma with a similar delivery on the second ball of the match.

With the pitch offering enough assistance to seamers early on, Kohli had it tough to start with. Some leading edges went to the hands of the fielders and were dropped, while some balls landed not too far from them as he rode his luck early on.

However, along with the false shots came several cracking punches and drives which got him going. Suddenly, he was batting on 26 off 24 and looked set for a big one.

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Kohli reached his 50 in the 17th over, slogging a free hit along the turf to deep mid-wicket for two runs. The first fifty came of exactly fifty balls as Kohli anchored the innings to perfection. The Mumbai heat took its toll on him, though, as he was constantly seen bending down on his haunches after taking quick runs and taking in deep breaths.

The last 16 balls he faced brought only six runs as the physical fatigue was clearly visible. He was early on the drive to a slower ball from Madushanka and handed an easy catch to cover.

This was the second time that Kohli has crossed 80 but failed to reach a hundred in his last three outings. With 48 ODI hundreds to his name, he needs just one more to equal Sachin’s all-time record of 49 hundreds and two more to become the first cricketer with 50 ODI centuries.