Adding another feather to his glorious career, star batter Virat Kohli on Sunday broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most runs in successful chases during India’s impressive six-wicket win over Australia in the World Cup in Chennai.
The 34-year-old Kohli played match-winning knock of 85 off 116, which took him to 5517 runs in 92 innings at an average of 88.98. Legendary Tendulkar scored 5490 runs in 124 innings in India’s victories in run chases.
Meanwhile, Kohli and KL Rahul also registered India’s highest 4th wicket partnership – 165 runs – in ODI World Cups during the all-important match against Australia.
Chasing a below par target of 200 for victory, India were rattled early and they lost three wickets in the space of 12 balls. India were reeling at 2/3 when Kohli and Rahul got together to stabilise the innings. The duo took their time to get their eyes in and then upped the scoring rate after the first Powerplay.
Kohli and Rahul brought up their half-centuries in 72 and 75 deliveries, respectively. The duo added 165-runs for the fourth wicket and their partnership ended on 165 runs with Kohli offering a catch at short mid-wicket on 85 runs. However, Rahul remained right until the end, finishing unbeaten on 97, to help India to a statement win in their opening Cricket World Cup encounter at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium.
The stand between Rahul and Kohli ticked past 142 runs which was the previous best between Navjot Sidhu and Vinod Kambli during the 1996 World Cup.
Earlier, a 69-run stand between David Warner and Steve Smith was the highlight of Australia’s batting innings. However India dominated the proceedings with help from their spinners. Ravindra Jadeja was the pick of India’s bowlers with his 3/28 and he got good support from Kuldeep Yadav (2/42), Ravichandran Ashwin (1/34) and pacer Jasprit Bumrah (2/35).
Smith top scored for Australia with 46, while David Warner (41) and Mitchell Starc (28) also found some runs