Xtra Time Web Desk: It was a vintage Virat Kohli on display as he smashed his 46th ODI hundred against Sri Lanka on Sunday. The King was at his best as he played a chanceless knock of 166 not out, belting the Lankan bowlers all across the park. The former India captain slammed 13 boundaries and 8 sixes. But the best of the lot had to be the one he hit Kasun Rajitha in the fourth ball of the 43rd over. He charged down the track and hit the slower one well outside off. In fact, Kohli moved towards off to fetch that, pummels it over long-on with a helicopter whip. It reminded of a MS Dhoni helicopter shot. Here is the video of the helicopter shot played by Virat Kohli posted by BCCI on its Instagram handle.
Kohli ended a 3-year century drought during the recently concluded ODI series against Bangladesh. He scored a hundred in the third and final ODI at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium. The star batter has not looked back since. He hit 113 in the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Guwahati. And on Sunday, Kohli smashed his way to an unbeaten 166 runs knock. It was his third ton in last four ODI innings.
Virat is just 3 hundreds short of equalling Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time ODI record of 49 hundreds. Kohli got to his 46th ODI hundred in just 269 matches in the 50-over format while Tendulkar played 463 innings.
The former India captain broke multiple ODI records en route to his 46th ODI hundred. He also broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most ODI hundreds at home in international cricket.
Tendulkar had hit 20 hundreds in home conditions in 164 matches while Kohli went past the mark in his 105th ODI at home.
Virat now holds the record of scoring the most hundreds against a single opposition — a record held by Sachin Tendulkar with 9 ODI tons against Australia. Kohli scored his 10th ODI hundred against Sri Lanka on Sunday.
Kohli’s stunning return to form in the 50-over format of the game augurs well for India ahead of the upcoming World Cup scheduled in October-November.