Harbhajan Singh believes Virat Kohli would not be too unhappy if he missed out on a record-equaling 49th ODI century in India’s 2023 World Cup victory against Sri Lanka.
On Thursday, November 2, Kohli struck 88 runs off 94 deliveries as the Men in Blue set the Lankan Lions a 358-run goal in Mumbai. The two-time winners then swept out Kusal Mendis and company for a meagre 55 to finish with a 302-run victory and a spot in the playoffs.
Harbhajan Singh was questioned about Kohli’s knock during a conversation on Star Sports, and he responded:
“He played a good knock. He got one or two chances for sure. If that caught and bowled had been taken, we would have said that Sri Lanka bowled very well. Yes, they bowled at the right places and troubled him slightly at the start, but once he got set, he didn’t face any difficulties.”
“As usual, you will see him bat like this – Virat Kohli is being Virat Kohli, he is not doing anything less or more. He knows his game plan. The fans were disappointed because the century didn’t come but he won’t be disappointed himself. He knows that (49th) century will come sooner or later and probably at a bigger stage than this.”
Harbhajan Singh
During his 88-run innings, Kohli hit 11 fours. After Rohit Sharma was bowled off the second ball delivery of the Indian innings, he combined 189 runs for the second wicket with Shubman Gill (92).
“The bowler showed his cleverness” – Harbhajan Singh on Virat Kohli’s dismissal
Harbhajan Singh was then questioned about the silence that descended over the audience when Virat Kohli was removed, to which he replied:
“Yes, as soon as the ball went up in the air because it was a slower ball. He (Kohli) had figured out the pace and bounce on the pitch but the bowler showed his cleverness here. It was a good ball because of which the ball went in the air.”
Harbhajan Singh
While recognising that the current batting great may have lost out on a huge hundred, the cricketer-turned-commentator maintained that a record-equaling tonne was possible. He stated:
“The entire ground went silent in the disappointment of Virat Kohli getting out because it seemed like he would not only score a century but play a 170 or 180-run knock. He might have saved it for later. So you don’t need to be too disappointed, he played a very good knock.”
Harbhajan Singh
Virat Kohli is one ODI century short of Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49. He hit his 48th century in India’s World Cup victory against Bangladesh, although he was dropped on the edge of a century against New Zealand and Sri Lanka.