Virat Kohli is called the run making machine for a reason. He hardly dissatisfies with the bat, and when it comes to chaseing, there is none better than he is. In January 2017, Kohli broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record for scoring most centuries in successful chases in ODIs and has now the Indian skipper has once again trumped the Indian batting legend for most hundreds in the 50-over format while chasing, regardless of whether India won or lost. Kohli displayed a batting sensation to slam his 28th ODI ton in the fifth and final ODI against the West Indies at Sabina Park in Kingston. It was his 18th century in a chase, passing Tendulkar’s record of 17.
However, the difference between the two loyalists, when it comes to chasing, is blatant. While Kohli has taken just 102 innings to reach 18 centuries, Tendulkar took 232 innings to score 17 hundreds.
Third in the list is Tillakaratne Dilshan, who scored 11 centuries in 116 innings while batting second.
Kohli also became the first Indian captain to score two hundreds against the West Indies in the Caribbean. Earlier, only Rahul Dravid had scored a hundred as captain in the Caribbean against the West Indies. Overall, this is Kohli’s fourth century against the Windies.
The Indian skipper was in glorious form in the fifth and final ODI against the West Indies. After Mohammaed Shami and Umesh Yadav had done the damage with the ball to restrict the hosts to 205 for nine, Kohli took charge to blow the Windies away.
India lost Shikhar Dhawan early in the chase. Kohli along with Ajinkya Rahane stabilized India after the early loss. Kohli was cautious to start with but soon started flexing his muscles as India started getting closer to the target.
Post Rahane’s dismissal, Kohli was joined by Dinesh Karthik and the duo strung together an unbeaten 122-run stand as India reached the target with 79 balls to spare and eight wickets in hand.
India’s complete win helped them clinch the five-match series 3-1. The focus will now shift to the sole Twenty20 international scheduled for Sunday.
