India's formidable victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup Super Four game was highlighted by Virat Kohli's 47th ODI century and KL Rahul's impressive ton. The Indian team posted an imposing 356 for 2, with Kohli scoring 122 not out off 94 balls, and Rahul contributing 111 not out off 106 balls. This partnership of 233 runs for the third wicket is the highest ODI partnership for India against Pakistan.
Kohli achieved several personal milestones during this match. He became the fastest batsman to reach 13,000 ODI runs and scored his fourth century in as many innings at the R Premadasa Stadium. Rahul, playing for India for the first time since March after recovering from an injury, batted comfortably for 141 minutes and later took over wicket-keeping duties, confirming his full fitness.
The match showcased the aesthetic beauty of Kohli and Rahul's batting. Kohli initially took his time before switching gears and accelerating seamlessly to reach his century. Rahul, on the other hand, batted with precision and exploited the opportunities offered by the Pakistan bowlers.
The Indian bowlers defended the challenging target of 357, with Jasprit Bumrah providing the perfect start by dismissing Imam-ul-Haq. Hardik Pandya also made an impact by breaching Pakistan captain Babar Azam's defense. Kuldeep Yadav, India's standout bowler in ODIs this year, took five wickets, bamboozling the Pakistan middle and late order with his variations.
This remarkable victory is India's biggest in terms of runs against Pakistan, winning by a record 228-run margin, underlining their dominance in the game and setting a new standard in this rivalry.