In the team’s final ODI against Pakistan during the Super 4 phase of the Asia Cup in Colombo in September of this year, veteran Indian batsman Virat Kohli smashed a stunning 122*. Only 94 balls were used in the knock, which included three sixes and nine fours. After scoring 356/2 in their 50 overs, the Men in Blue bowled Pakistan out for 128 in 32 overs.
Kohli will look to repeat his outstanding performance when the long-standing rivals meet in the 2023 World Cup match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday. The 34-year-old has so far scored 193 runs in three ODI matches against Pakistan in the World Cup at an average of 64.33 and strike rate of 91.03, with a century and a fifty.
The former captain is ranked number two among Indian batters with the most runs against Pakistan in the ODI World Cup. The legendary Sachin Tendulkar tops the list with 313 runs in five matches, averaging 78.25 and a strike rate of 83.24, with three half-centuries.
Virat Kohli needs to score 121 runs in the World Cup match against Pakistan on Saturday to go past Tendulkar’s tally and move to the top of the list among Indian batters with the most runs in the men’s ODI World Cup against Pakistan.
Current Indian captain Rohit Sharma is third on the list. He scored 155 runs at an average of 77.50 and a strike rate of 116.54 in two ODI World Cup matches against Pakistan. In the crushing eight-wicket victory against Afghanistan in Delhi, the 36-year-old smashed 131 off only 84 balls.
Rohit needs 159 runs on Saturday in Ahmedabad to surpass Tendulkar’s total of the highest runs scored by an Indian hitter in the ODI World Cup against Pakistan.
Sreesanth Expects Virat Kohli to Score 48th ODI Hundred in World Cup Game vs Pakistan
Former India bowler S Sreesanth made a bold prediction before of the India vs. Pakistan 2023 World Cup match, predicting that Kohli will get his 48th ODI century in Ahmedabad.
In an interview with Sportskeeda, he stated:
“I feel Virat Kohli or Hardik Pandya will win the player of the match against Pakistan. Hardik will score some runs after a shaky start and will have an all-round performance. Virat will score his 48th ODI hundred against Pakistan.”
S Sreesanth
Virat Kohli has played 283 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and scored 13223 runs at an average of 57.74 and a strike rate of 93.63, with 47 hundreds and 68 half-centuries.