• Virat Kohli and KL Rahul hammered brilliant tons against Pakistan in the third match of Super 4 stage in Asia Cup 2023.

  • Cricket fraternity and fans lauded the dynamic duo of Kohli-Rahul for their sensational knocks.

Cricket fraternity erupts as Virat Kohli and KL Rahul light up R. Premadasa Stadium with brilliant centuries – IND vs PAK, Asia Cup 2023
Virat Kohli and KL Rahul (Image Source: Twitter)

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The India-Pakistan clash in Super Four stage of Asia Cup 2023 that cricket fans around the world had eagerly awaited finally resumed on the reserve day after the originally scheduled fixture was washed out due to rain and witnessed a spectacle that will be etched in memory for years to come.

Resuming their innings on 147//2, India lost no wicket further and posted a mammoth total of 356 in their allotted 50 overs. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul were the standout performers for the Men in Blue and hammered brilliant tons for their side. The duo smashed Pakistan’s pace battery all over the park and left the cricketing world in awe of their innings.

Virat Kohli’s magnificent 122 (94)

Kohli emerged as the true talisman for his team at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The former India skipper exhibited a masterclass in batting, hammering a sensational century. Kohli’s 122 came off just 94 balls and included nine boundaries and three sixes. It was a performance that once again emphasized his status as one of the greatest ODI batters of all time.

Moreover, Kohli’s innings had a historic dimension as well. In the process of scoring his 122, he crossed the monumental milestone of 13,000 ODI runs and became the fastest to reach this landmark in terms of innings played.

Fewest innings to 13,000 ODI runs

267 – Virat Kohli*
321 – Sachin Tendulkar
341 – Ricky Ponting
363 – Kumar Sangakkara
416 – Sanath Jayasuriya

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KL Rahul’s remarkable comeback century

If Kohli’s century was a testament to his class and consistency, KL Rahul’s century was a story of resilience and determination. Rahul had faced a recent setback with a niggle after recovering from his thigh injury, which forced him to miss the group stage matches of the Asia Cup 2023. However, his return to the team was nothing short of a fairy tale comeback.

Rahul’s 111 runs came off 106 balls and featured 12 fours and two sixes. His partnership with Kohli was the cornerstone of India’s innings, and the duo’s chemistry on the pitch left fans in raptures. Rahul’s innings was not just about runs; it was about character, grit, and a determination to make a strong comeback.

Historic partnership and records tumble

The partnership between Kohli and Rahul, which produced 233 runs, became the highest partnership in the history of the Asia Cup. Their sublime batting display overshadowed the previous record held by Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed, who had put together 224 runs against India back in 2012.

Highest Partnership in ODI Asia Cup

233 – Virat Kohli and KL Rahul vs PAK, 2023*
224 – Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed vs IND, 2012
223 – Shoaib Malik and Younis Khan vs HK, 2004
214 – Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed vs NEP, 2023

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The cricketing world couldn’t help but marvel at the batting prowess displayed by the Indian duo. Fans and people from the cricket fraternity showered accolades on Kohli and Rahul for their brilliant innings, which had set a new benchmark in the annals of the Asia Cup history and flooded social media with appreciation posts.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

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About the Author:
VISHWANATH HARIHARAN
Vishwanath Hariharan is Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. From breaking news stories to in-depth features and opinion pieces, he has covered a wide range of topics. Vishwanath is very fond of watching cricket. Like many others, he too grew up watching, playing, and imitating his favourite players of the game. MS Dhoni is like a demigod to him. You can connect with him at vishwanath.hariharan@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter & Linkedin.