#CWC23 : Majestic Virat Kohli Smashes Unbeaten Ton, His 48th To Help India Demolish Bangladesh By 7 Wickets

Picture : ICC / X

India maintained their perfect record and cruised to their fourth consecutive victory of the tournament with a clinical seven-wicket win against Bangladesh in Pune . The star for India in the run chase was the imperious ‘King Kohli’ Virat Kohli who smashed his 48th ODI ton.

Earlier stand- in Bangladesh Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto in place of injured Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and opted to bat first . Tanzid Hasan 51 ( 43 balls , 5 fours, 3 sixes) and Litton Das 66 ( 82 balls 7 fours ) gave the team a good start putting on 93 for the first wicket. But the others could not carry on – Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto ( 8), Mehidy Hasan Miraz ( 3), Towhid Hridoy ( 16), Mushfiqur Rahim ( 38 ), Mahmudullah 46 ( 36 balls 3 fours, 3 sixes) , Nasum Ahmed ( 14 ) enabled them to reach a fighting 256/ 8 in 50 overs . All-rounder Hardik Pandya had to leave the field with left ankle injury mid- way his incomplete over was finished by Virat Kohli.

India bowlers backed by fine fielding with two outstanding catches by K L Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja set the standard. Bowling figures were – Jasprit Bumrah 2/ 41 (10 overs), Mohammed Siraj 2/ 60 ( 10 overs) , Hardik Pandya (0.3 overs) 0/ 8, Virat Kohli (0. 2 overs) 0/ 2. Shardul Thakur 1/ 59 ( 9 overs), Kuldeep Yadav 1/ 47 ( 10 overs), Ravindra Jadeja 2/ 38 ( 10 overs)

In reply, India got off to a flyer with Skipper Rohit Sharma in fine form and Shubman Gill joining the party . Rohit Sharma scored a quick 40 ( 40 balls , 7 fours 2 sixes) , Shubman Gill reached his first fifty of the World Cup a superb 53 ( 55 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes). The duo put on 88 for the first wicket setting the momentums for the chase . In terrific form the run chase master Virat Kohli came good yet again as he smashed in 48th ODI ton this time an unbeaten 103 ( 97 balls , 6 fours a, 4 sixes ) and he finished the match with a six in style . Shreyas Iyer fell for 19. But K L Rahul ensured no more hiccups as he remained unbeaten on 34 along with Kohli to guide India home with ease . India reaching 261/ 3 in 41. 3 overs . India next play New Zealand next in Dharamsala .

Bangladesh bowlers could not shine against the formidable India batting line-up and they struggled to take wickets . Absence of Bangladesh skipper the experienced Shakib Al Hasan hit them hard. The figures were : Shoriful Islam 0 / 54 ( 8 overs) , Mustafizur Rahman 0/ 29 ( 5 overs), Nasum Ahmed 0/ 60 ( 9. 3 overs) , Hasan Mahmud 1/ 65 ( 8 overs), Mehidy Hasan Miraz 2/ 47 ( 10 overs), Mahmudullah 0/ 6 ( 1 over)

Match: World Cup 2023, 17th Match
Venue: Pune | Date: October 19, 2023