STATS
Follow UsThe first match of the ODI World Cup year, and India are off to a great start. For Sri Lanka, it was yet again the same man, their skipper Dasun Shanaka, who avoided them from a deflating defeat.
Riding on the backs of the start from openers and Virat Kohli’s 45th century, India had set a humongous target of 374. Sri Lanka had lost the match at the halfway stage, but Shanaka took them over 300. From Kohli’s 45th ton till Shanaka, there were few stats:
Kohli registers his 45th ODI ton
They say one brings two, and two brings three. For nearly three years, Kohli didn’t have a single century in international cricket. Now, in just five months, he has had three. With his 45th ODI ton and 73rd international, he registered some notable records:
In ODIs, this was Kohli’s 20th ton on home soil. With that, he is now leveled with Sachin Tendulkar for most ODI tons on home soil for a batter.
En route his knock of 113, Kohli became the sixth batsman in ODIs to reach the landmark of 12500 runs. Among the six, by virtue of reaching it in 257 innings, he was the fastest. He is the first batsman to breach it under 300 innings.
In ODIs, this was Kohli’s ninth century against Sri Lanka. These are the joint most centuries against an opponent in ODIs.
In ODIs, this was the 10th instance of Kohli scoring back-to-back hundreds (two or more consecutive centuries), which is the most for any batter.
Intent at its best
There is always a talk about intent when it comes to Indian batters. In the first ODI, that intent was there.
Each of the top six batters had a strike rate of 110+ after scoring 10+ runs in this innings. In an ODI innings where all the six batters have batted and scored 10+ runs, only twice has all of them maintained a strike rate of 110+. In both the other instances, South Africa were involved. Once against Zimbabwe in 2010 and the other against India in 2015 at Wankhede.
Posting big totals
In ODIs, India have posted a total of 350+ in 31 innings, which is the most for any team. Out of those 31, nine have come against Sri Lanka.
Against an opposition, these are the most number of innings for team with 350+ totals in ODIs. Australia against India, had eight totals of 350+, which was the joint mot before today.
Rohit registers 7500 runs as opener
Regardless of the current form, it is a well-known fact that Rohit Sharma is a prolific opener in international cricket. In today’s innings, he missed out on a century by 17 runs.
However, en route to his knock of 83, Rohit registered 7500 runs as an opener in ODIs. It took him just 149 innings to reach the milestone, which is the fastest among all openers.
A fight from low down the order
Chasing 373, at 206/8 in the 38th over, there was no chance of victory for Sri Lanka. But, they didn’t bow down. Kasun Rajitha alongside Shanaka, forged an unbeaten 100-run partnership for the ninth wicket.
In ODIs, this was their second highest partnership for ninth or below wicket. Against India, only James Faulkner and Clint McKay (115) in 2013, had a higher partnership for the ninth or lower wicket in the format.
Another fighting innings from Shanaka in vain
Throughout the series, Shanaka has been a thorn in India’s path. He had almost pulled it off for them in the first T20I and won it for them in the second T20I, single handedly. But, In the last two matches of the tour, Sri Lanka had left too much when he came into bat.
Though knowing victory was a long shot, Shanaka didn’t give up in this innings and scored his second ODI century. Both his centuries have come while he was batting six or below. In ODIs, he is the first Sri Lankan batter to have multiple centuries batting six or lower.
