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Virat Kohli became the fastest batsman to reach 13,000 ODI runs and moved closer to Sachin Tendulkar’s record of hundreds in the format as India punished Pakistan’s bowling attack in the Asia Cup.
Kohli (122 not out off 94 balls) passed 13,000 runs in his 267th ODI innings – 54 strokes faster than his compatriot Tendulkar – with his 47th century leaving him just two tons shy of Tendulkar’s record of 49.
Kohli shared a sustained stand of 233 off 194 balls with KL Rahul (111 off 106) to propel India to 356-2 in the Super Four clash against Pakistan, which was extended to a stand-in day after heavy rain in Colombo on Sunday.
Rahul marked his first international appearance in six months – he has been sidelined with a thigh injury sustained while playing in the Indian Premier League in May – with his sixth ODI century.
India resumed on Monday with a score of 147-2 off 24.1 with Rahul 17 not out and Kohli unbeaten in eight.
The duo built superbly on a 121-run stand between openers Rohit Sharma (56) and Shubman Gill (58) on Sunday, with Kohli completing an 84-ball knock soon after Rahul grabbed a ton in his comeback match.
Both Rahul (left) and Kohli (right) shared an unbroken partnership of 233 off 194 balls in Colombo
Rahul, who was only playing due to a back spasm suffered by teammate Shreyas Iyer, showed few signs of rust as he collected 12 fours and two sixes, while Kohli hit nine fours and three sixes – his last maximum coming off the last ball of the innings.
Kohli is the fifth player to reach 13,000 ODI runs, after Tendulkar, Sri Lankan duo Kumar Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya, and Australian Ricky Ponting.
India and Pakistan meet in the Cricket World Cup in Ahmedabad on October 14.
The two teams currently only play in Asia Cups and ICC World events with the bilateral series temporarily halted due to political tensions between the countries.
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