Cascade of sixes, highest chase and spinners' struggle overshadows Kohli’s special feat

Virat Kohli registers 10k runs batting at No. 3

This man keeps on racking up records with each passing day. Since the time Virat Kohli made his ODI debut, he has batted most of his career at No. 3. In the second ODI, Kohli became the second batsman to score 10,000 runs in that position and the fifth batsman to score those many runs at a batting position. Kohli became the fastest to score 10k runs at a position among all of them. 

He has 36 centuries batting at No. 3, the second most after Sachin Tendulkar’s 45 as an opener in ODIs. 

Virat Kohli and his overweening consistency

The one and the biggest aspect of Kohli that is lauded by the whole cricketing fraternity is his impeccable consistency. In the second ODI, Kohli registered his fourth consecutive half-century. In ODIs, this was the seventh time in his career that he had registered a 50-plus score on four or more consecutive occasions, ahead of Kumar Sangakkara, who has achieved this four times. 

No wonder he averages nearly 60 in the shorter format of the game. Not just 50-over cricket, but he has an average of 50 in all three formats. 

India accelerating in the last 10 overs 

Throughout this limited-overs series, the T20Is and the ODIs, starting slow and finishing off with a bang has been the feature of Indian batting. In the T20I series, they had scored at a run-rate of 11.3 at the death. The continued their form in the ODIs as well, scoring 112 and 126 in the first and second ODIs respectively. 

The 126 runs scored by them in the second game are the fifth-highest for India in ODIs since 2010. Against Australia in 2013 in Bengaluru, they had clubbed 151 runs. 

Four century partnerships in a match

On the back of a century partnership for the third and fourth wicket between Kohli-Rahul (121) and then Rahul-Rishabh Pant (113), India had hoisted a huge total of 336. In reply, England were able to chase the target down with ease because of the 110-run opening partnership between Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow and a 175-run second-wicket partnership between Bairstow and Ben Stokes. 

In total, this match saw four century partnerships, which is the joint-most in a match. In fact, this was only the second instance. The other one also involves India. In 2009 against Sri Lanka in Rajkot, there were four century partnerships in a match. 

Most sixes conceded by an Indian bowler

Looking at the likes of Kuldeep Yadav, the confidence seems to have faded out considerably. Even though he has been handed chances, the body language doesn’t look confident enough. 

In the two matches, he has played this series, it was evident. In the second ODI, Kuldeep was smashed for eight sixes in his spell of 10 overs. It is the most number of sixes an Indian bowler has conceded in an ODI innings. 

Ben Stokes mayhem 

Coming into bat after a solid start from the openers, Ben Stokes was slow to start off with. Stokes reached his half-century in 40 balls but went berserk in the next 12 balls. In those 12 balls, Stokes amassed 49 runs.

 He fell one short of a stupendous century, but the innings was one of the most entertaining ones he has played. His innings of 99 involved 10 sixes, which is the most for a batsman without a century in ODIs.

Flurry of sixes

The pitch at the MCA Stadium, Pune had some true bounce and it was a batsman’s paradise. India had hit only three sixes in the first 40 overs, but smashed 11 in the last 10 overs. On the other hand, just like Eoin Morgan said in the post-match presentation after the first ODI, England played with aggressive intent in this game. 

In the first 40 overs itself, England batsmen clubbed 20 sixes and the game was almost done. In total, this match saw 34 sixes, which is the third-most in a match in ODIs. The 20 sixes conceded by India are also the joint-most they have in an ODI. 

Second highest chase for England

From a situation of comfort in the first ODI, England faltered. But, in the second ODI, it wasn’t the case. All the dots were connected and thus, ended up on the winning side. They were in a similar situation in the first ODI as well, when Roy was dismissed and the opening partnership of 110 runs was broken.

This time Stokes and Bairstow took the responsibility on their shoulders and steered England to a win. This is the second-highest chase for England away from home. 

Indian spinners clubbed all over the park

Generally, it is a rare sight to see Indian spinners going for runs, especially in home conditions. In the second ODI, Kuldeep conceded 84 runs in his 10 overs and Krunal Pandya had conceded 72 runs in his six overs. 

Collectively, both had conceded at an economy of 9.7. In an innings in which spinners have bowled 15 or more overs, this overall economy of 9.7 by them is the second-worst in ODIs.