Star India batter Virat Kohli achieved yet another achievement during his century against Pakistan in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy, becoming the first-ever player to score an ODI century in all the countries he has played in. The crowd at Dubai International Stadium had a gala time seeing the chase master in his elements as he scored 100* in 111 balls, with seven fours. So now, in chronological order, Virat has scored ODI centuries in Australia, Bangladesh, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, UAE, West Indies, Zimbabwe, and finally, India, his home.
Virat also joined the elite company of legends like Sanath Jayasuriya, Sachin Tendulkar, and Chris Gayle to the only fourth player to score ODI centuries across 10 countries or more. According to Wisden, both Gayle and Virat have ODI tons in 10 countries, whereas Sanath and Sachin have ODI tons in 12 countries, out of the 15 and 16 countries that they have visited for their ODI fixtures in their respective careers.
Out of these four, Virat remains a singular case since he has ODI centuries in all 10 countries he has played, with Sanath, Sachin, and Gayle unable to conquer a few with their centuries. Sanath could not score ODI centuries in Zimbabwe, Kenya and Morocco, Sachin in Ireland, Kenya, Canada and West Indies, Gayle failed in Bangladesh, Ireland, Malaysia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Coming to the India-Pakistan Champions Trophy clash, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first. Pakistan was off to a great start with Babar Azam (23 in 26 balls with five fours) playing some dazzling driving shots in the 41-run opening partnership. After having lost two quick wickets, Pakistan were at 47 for 2.
The pair of skipper Mohammed Rizwan (46 in 77 balls with three fours) and Shakeel Saud (62 in 76 balls with five fours) put on a partnership of 104 runs but consumed a lot of deliveries in doing so. Following the end of this partnership, Khushdil Shah (38 in 39 balls, with two sixes) did put up a fight with Salman Agha (19) and Naseem Shah (14) before they were all bundled out for 241 runs in 49.4 overs.
In chasing 242 runs, India saw an early fall of skipper Rohit Sharma (20 in 15 balls, with three fours and a six). A partnership worth 69 runs between Shubman Gill (46 in 52 balls, with seven fours) and Virat Kohli (100* in 111 balls, with seven fours), followed by another of 114 runs between Virat and Iyer (56 in 67 balls, with five fours and a six) saw an easy India win by four wickets with 45 balls to spare.
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