Virat Kohli's stellar feat of achieving the quickest half-century to 14,000 ODI runs was the major highlight of India's thumping victory over Pakistan in the Champions Trophy.
Kohli achieved the feat in his 287th innings, going past the records of Sachin Tendulkar, who had achieved it in 350 innings, and Kumar Sangakkara, who had achieved the feat in 378 innings.
Kohli’s swift ascent to this achievement has been fueled by his consistent performances, with an average exceeding 57, a significantly higher mark than Tendulkar and Sangakkara when they reached the same milestone.
Kohli's landmark was supplemented by his 51st ODI century, where he scored a match-winning 100* off 111 deliveries while leading India's pursuit of 242. His sublime batting in this innings was back to the Kohli we have witnessed take over the ODIs through the years. Former Indian captain Anil Kumble noted that Kohli’s mind space seemed more at ease compared to his previous innings against Bangladesh, where he appeared more cautious. Against Pakistan, Kohli’s aggressive approach and focused mindset were evident as he constructed his century, finishing with a cover-driven boundary to seal the game.
Kohli's success not only testifies to his consistency and domination in ODIs but also marks his skill for performing under pressure, particularly considering the huge responsibility put on his shoulders by the team and followers alike. Kohli's being the quickest to each 1,000-run mark since reaching 8,000 runs in 2017 is a further testament to him being among the all-time best ODI hitters.
Aside from his batting talent, Kohli also became the most successful Indian catcher in ODIs, adding to the record for most catches as a fielder in the format, going to 158.
With his stupendous performance, Kohli is set to surpass Sangakkara for second position in the list of leading run-scorers in ODIs, while Sachin Tendulkar's 18,426 record is still the holy grail. Kohli's story still inspires millions, and his contribution to the game is still unrivaled.
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