NEW DELHI: Batting virtuoso Virat Kohli produced a batting masterclass on Saturday as he slammed his 44th one-day international century at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram against Bangladesh.
With the scintillating ton, Kohli surpassed legendary Australian top-order batter Ricky Ponting (71) in terms of most hundreds in international cricket. Kohli now has 72 international centuries in the three formats combined and is now placed second only behind iconic Sachin Tendulkar (100 hundreds).
The century against Bangladesh is now the first for Virat in the ODIs since August 2019.
Kohli's 113 off 91 balls was laced with 11 fours and a couple of sixes and came at a strike rate of over 124.
Along with opener Ishan Kishan, who smashed 210 off 131 balls, Virat added 290 runs for the second wicket as India amassed 409 for 8 in the inconsequential third ODI -- their fourth highest ODI total ever.
During the run fest in Chattogram, Kohli also completed 1000 ODI runs in Bangladesh -- becoming only the second player to do so after Australia’s Shane Watson.
Earlier, in August, Kohli scored his maiden T20I century in the Asia Cup against Afghanistan. The century for Virat against the Afghans broke a three-year century drought for Virat.
Kohli was also the highest run getter in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia where he aggregated 296 runs in 6 outings. India exited the tournament in the semis after suffering a 10-wicket defeat.
