In a remarkable Super Four match of the 2023 Asia Cup held at the R. Premadasa Stadium, India displayed a stunning performance, securing a resounding 228-run victory over their traditional rivals, Pakistan.
The contest, unfortunately, extended over two days due to unfavorable weather conditions.
Under the captaincy of Babar Azam, Pakistan opted to field first, setting the stage for an explosive showdown. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, India's opening duo, took center stage and aggressively seized the initiative. This time, Shaheen Afridi, who had previously troubled India's top order, found himself struggling to make an impact as the Indian batsmen piled on the runs with ease.
With the exception of Naseem Shah, the Pakistani bowling attack appeared ineffective, as Rohit and Gill combined forces to accumulate 121 runs for the first wicket. Despite Pakistan's brief resurgence with two quick wickets, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul's brilliant batting performance firmly established India's dominance.
The third-wicket partnership between Kohli and Rahul was nothing short of spectacular, as they amassed an unbeaten 233 runs from 193 deliveries, propelling India to a colossal total of 356 runs. Rahul remained undefeated with a splendid century, scoring 111 runs off 106 balls, while Kohli's explosive innings of 122 not out, achieved in just 94 deliveries and adorned with nine boundaries and three sixes, set new records. In contrast, Pakistan's batting lineup struggled to find their footing.
India's bowling tandem of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya provided a solid start, while Kuldeep Yadav later spun a web of deception that left Pakistan in disarray. Yadav's impressive performance yielded figures of 5/25, restricting Pakistan to a mere 128 runs. Notably, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah did not have the opportunity to bat due to injuries. Undoubtedly, this match showcased an array of exceptional performances over the course of the two days.
In light of these remarkable achievements, let us now delve into five records that were shattered during the epic encounter between India and Pakistan in the Super Four stage of the 2023 Asia Cup.
13000 ODI runs and counting for ? Kohli
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 11, 2023
He also brings up his 47th ODI CENTURY ??#TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/ePKxTWUTzn
Virat Kohli made history as he became the quickest batsman to reach 13,000 runs in One Day Internationals (ODIs). The former Indian captain achieved this remarkable milestone on Monday, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli reached 13,000 ODI runs with a double off the bowling of Shaheen Afridi during the 48th over of India's innings.
Kohli achieved this feat in just 267 innings, leaving Tendulkar behind, who took 321 innings to set the previous record. Additionally, Kohli joined an elite group of only five batsmen who have scored 13,000 runs in 50-over cricket. Apart from Tendulkar, the others in this exclusive club are Kumar Sangakkara (14,234 runs), Ricky Ponting (13,704 runs), and Sanath Jayasuriya (13,430 runs).
Virat Kohli's remarkable performance in the Asia Cup earned him the distinction of having the most Player of the Match awards among Indian players. The prolific batsman scored a sensational century, further solidifying his exceptional form this year.
For his outstanding unbeaten TON, Virat Kohli bagged the Player of the Match award as #TeamIndia beat Pakistan by 228 runs in Super 4s ? ?
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 11, 2023
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/kg7Sh2t5pM#AsiaCup2023 | #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/Zq0WVZK3XG
Kohli's innings featured nine boundaries and three sixes as he notched an unbeaten 122 off just 94 balls, marking his 47th ODI century. For his outstanding display with the bat, Kohli was named the Player of the Match. This victory marked Kohli's fourth Player of the Match award in the history of the Asia Cup, making him the record holder among Indian players.
Former Indian cricketers Suresh Raina and Navjot Singh Sidhu share the second spot with three Player of the Match awards each.
India achieved its most significant margin of victory against Pakistan in One Day Internationals (ODIs). Rohit Sharma and his team secured a resounding win over their arch-rivals at the R. Premadasa Stadium, defeating them by a massive margin of 228 runs. This victory stands as the largest win by the Indian cricket team over Babar Azam and company in ODI history.
??: How about that for a win for #TeamIndia! ? ?#AsiaCup2023 | #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/EgXF17y4z1
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 11, 2023
The previous record for the biggest margin of victory against Pakistan was 140 runs, dating back to India's stunning win in Mirpur in 2008. This victory occurred during the second match of the Kitply Cup, where India posted a formidable total of 330/8 in their 50 overs before dismissing Pakistan for a mere 190.
In a historic moment, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul formed an unbeaten partnership of 233 runs for the third wicket against Pakistan in Colombo. Both batsmen reached centuries as India posted a commanding total of 356/2 in their allotted 50 overs.
A splendid performance with bat and ball ??
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 12, 2023
Relive all the action from #TeamIndia's comprehensive Super 4s win ?
Match Highlights ?? #AsiaCup2023 | #INDvPAK
This partnership between Kohli and Rahul stands as the highest ever recorded in an India vs. Pakistan ODI match, surpassing the previous best set by Sachin Tendulkar and Navjot Singh Sidhu, who added 231 runs for the second wicket in Sharjah in 1996. During that match, Tendulkar scored 118 runs, while Sidhu contributed 101 runs to propel India to a total of 305/5. Pakistan could only muster 277 runs in response, resulting in India's victory by a margin of 28 runs. Tendulkar even chipped in with two wickets in that match.
The third spot on the list of highest partnerships in India vs. Pakistan ODIs is occupied by Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, who put together a 210-run partnership for the first wicket during the 2018 Asia Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. In that game, Dhawan scored 114 runs, while Rohit remained unbeaten on 111 as India comfortably chased down 238 runs in just 39.3 overs, winning by nine wickets.
Wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul made a strong comeback to the Indian cricket team after a lengthy injury layoff. The right-handed batsman marked his return with a splendid century in his sixth One Day International (ODI) hundred, cementing his place in the team ahead of the World Cup, which is set to begin next month.
What a remarkable comeback by @klrahul! His century today against Pakistan in the #AsiaCup2023 is not just a personal triumph but a testament to his resilience! pic.twitter.com/ITwwc2WoHy
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) September 11, 2023
In the process, Rahul crossed the 2,000-run mark in ODIs, becoming the fifth-fastest Indian batsman to achieve this milestone, accomplishing it in just 53 innings. Virat Kohli occupies the fourth spot, reaching the landmark in his 53rd innings, similar to KL Rahul's achievement. Navjot Singh Sidhu (52 innings), Sourav Ganguly (52 innings), and Shikhar Dhawan (48 innings) hold the third, second, and first positions, respectively, in the list of fastest Indian batsmen to score 2,000 ODI runs.
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