Another match in Australia, another terrific knock from Virat Kohli as the champion batsman continues his supreme run of form with the bat by scoring a match-winning half-century against Bangladesh that earned him the Player of the Match award, at his most successful overseas ground – the Adelaide Oval.
Virat Kohli scored 64 unbeaten runs off 44 balls with the help of 8 fours and one six. While this knock wasn’t in the aura of the one against Pakistan, it was equally crucial as it got India much-needed two points which send them to the top of the points table and closer to the semi-final.
Kohli tumbled further records in this innings, including going past Mahela Jayawardene for most runs in T20 World Cup history: Kohli now has 1065 runs in 23 innings at a staggering average of 88, while Jayawardene scored 1016 runs in 31 knocks at 39. Rohit Sharma is fourth on the list with 921 runs in 34 innings at 35 average.
Virat Kohli equals Aaron Finch’s record of most T20I fifties in Australia!
Another record that Virat Kohli scaled down will drop your jaws. Virat Kohli now has joint-most T20I fifties in Australia, equalling Aaron Finch’s record of 8 T20I fifties in the country despite Kohli playing just one-third of the number of innings Finch has played in his home country.
Most fifties in Australia in T20Is:
•Virat Kohli – 8 (14 inns).
•Aaron Finch – 8 (43 inns).
•David Warner – 7 (30 inns) + 1 century
No other non-Australian batsman has more than 3 T20I half-centuries in Australia, while KING Kohli has 8 to his name. And he’s not done yet with India to play Zimbabwe next, and a potential semi-final.
Taking his Man of the Match award, Kohli talked about his love for playing in Adelaide.
“A good day with the bat. When I went in there was a bit of pressure. I didn’t want little mistakes to curb my instincts. I am in a happy place. I don’t want to compare it with the past. As soon as I knew the WC is in Australia, I was grinning from ear to ear. Good cricketing shots will be the key here is what I know. Hitting through the line is what I do in every format. It is just an extension for me. I love playing at this ground. This makes me feel at home. When I come to Adelaide, I am meant to enjoy myself and keep batting,” Kohli said.
