Though the ODI series between India and Sri Lanka is wrapped up by the visitors, team India seems it can’t lose a match on this tour of Sri Lanka even if they want to.
They tried in the second One Day International, with a batting collapse during a chase. They almost repeated it in the third ODI too. But so far, Sri Lanka have only been able to get close to upsetting India, it’s not been a reality.
The Indian cricket team, after choosing to bat first, are dominating Sri Lanka in the fourth ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Thursday. Virat Kohli has scored his 29th century and Rohit Sharma his 33rd half-century.
It took just 76 balls for Virat Kohli to reach the hundred run mark. The Delhi-born star gave us a demonstration of his surreal talent once again as he hammered 14 boundaries and a towering maximum in the process. Virat Kohli surpassed Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya’s tally of 28 One Day International hundred and is now the third in the most centuries list.
While it’s just a matter of time when Virat Kohli goes past Ponting it will take some hard work to equal the benchmark set by the Master Blaster. But it can be safely concluded that if there is someone who can give Tendulkar’s record a major scare, it is none other than Virat Kohli.
Twitter hails India skipper Virat Kohli:
29th ODI ton for Virat Kohli. It came off 76 deliveries. #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/GlbtK3WCn8
— ScoopWhoop News (@scoopwhoopnews) August 31, 2017
Good cricketers convert their 50s into 100s.
Exceptional cricketers like Virat Kohli converts his 20s into 100s.
— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) August 31, 2017
29th hundred for Kohli. He has more hundreds now than the number of years he has spent on this planet. #SLvInd
— cricBC (@cricBC) August 31, 2017
Virat Kohli walks his dog in the park to another ODI century #SLvInd
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) August 31, 2017
Today, Kohli has a strike rate of over 100 on the front foot, back foot, down the track; and leg-side, off-side and straight shots. #SLvIND
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) August 31, 2017
Top knock so far n a great opportunity for Virat to get his 1st double in ODI ‘s #IndvsSL
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) August 31, 2017
100 in 24.1 overs…Wonder what is coming now..
— Harisankar (@harish_staycalm) August 31, 2017
Century Number 29 for Virat Kohli! One of his most easiest, never at trouble. Superb century, chance to make it a huge one. Aim double!
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) August 31, 2017
Most centuries in ODIs:
49 – Sachin Tendulkar
30 – Ricky Ponting
29 – VIRAT KOHLI*
28 – Sanath Jayasuriya #SLvIND— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) August 31, 2017
Century for @imVkohli! It’s his 29th in ODIs, his seventh against Sri Lanka, and comes off 76 balls! #SLvIND https://t.co/TFWPFMc8TR pic.twitter.com/NpYHXG9dsu
— ICC (@ICC) August 31, 2017
ODI ton number 29 for Virat Kohli #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/Gowfx9Ev3M
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) August 31, 2017
7th century for Kohli v Sri Lanka in ODIs. Only Tendulkar has more 100s v a team: 9 v Aus and 8 v SL. #SLvIND
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) August 31, 2017
Captain @imVkohli brings up his 29th ODI 💯 as he becomes the fastest player to score 2000 ODI runs vs Sri Lanka. (2045 in 44 inns) #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/47EZmrcIFq
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) August 31, 2017
Former Indian and World Cup-winning MS Dhoni plays his 300th ODI today and a depleted Sri Lanka have fallen back on old warhorse Lasith Malinga to captain a demoralized side.