Virat Kohli celebrated his return to the international arena by hitting his 55th ODI hundred as India beat West Indies by eight wickets in the series opener on Sunday.Â
India’s star batter – who now only plays this format in international cricket – smashed an unbeaten 139 off 88 balls, including 10 fours and nine sixes, as India successfully chased down 296 in just 41.4 overs.
In doing so, the 37-year-old also became only the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar (18,426) to pass 15,000 runs in ODIs.
“My focus has never been on milestones. Just looking back at the start of my journey, it makes me feel very grateful,” Kohli said. “I enjoy each and every minute that I am out there playing for India, and I am able to do the job for my team. As a cricketer, this is all I could dream of.”
Skipper Shubman Gill also notched a century, scoring 110 off 108 deliveries as India registered an easy win – clinched with a Kohli six – to go 1-0 up in the three-match series.
Earlier, West Indies had posted 295-7 from their 50 overs after being put into bat. Opener Justin Greaves (101 off 108) scored his maiden ODI ton, sharing in an impressive 135-run opening partnership with John Campbell (62 off 60) inside the first 20 overs.
Wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav (4-40) ultimately accounted for both as he wreaked havoc in the middle overs to see West Indies reduced to 198-5 by the 36th.
Amir Jangoo’s unbeaten 58 off 43 balls helped revive the innings, but their target of 296 ultimately proved an under-par one on a batter-friendly pitch.
It was a quick-fire chase for India as openers Gill and Rohit Sharma added 74 off 72 balls, Sharma scoring 32 off 35 before he fell to Alzarri Joseph (1-81) in the 12th over.
Kohli came to the crease and promptly eased his way to fifty in only 40 balls, hitting the 15,000-milestone on the way – the fastest to do it at 303 innings, compared to Tendulkar’s 377.
He and Gill put on 151 off 132 balls for the second wicket before the captain departed against the run of play to Roston Chase (1-64) in the 34th over.
But Kohli cruised to a 74-ball hundred, before finishing the game in style with 8.2 overs to spare. Kohli’s nine sixes were his most in an ODI innings.
Guwahati and Chandigarh will host the second and third ODIs on Wednesday and Saturday, followed by a five-match T20 series starting on October 6.
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