"The way he dominated, it was great to see": Kohli’s childhood coach reacts to 139 and 15,000-run milestone
Virat Kohli reaches 15,000 ODI runs and scores 139* against West Indies. Childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma hails his champion mentality and dominance.
Virat Kohli has reached a monumental milestone in One Day International cricket, surpassing the 15,000-run mark. His recent sensational performance, featuring an unbeaten 139 against the West Indies, has sparked immense pride across the nation. His childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma, expressed his joy and admiration for the batter's incredible achievement and his relentless pursuit of excellence.
A Dominant Knock and a Historic Milestone
In a high-stakes chase of 296, Kohli turned the game in India's favor with a breathtaking innings. He remained unbeaten on 139 from just 88 deliveries, striking at a rate exceeding 157. During this explosive knock, he smashed 10 fours and nine sixes—marking his highest number of sixes in a single ODI innings. This performance not only secured the victory but also saw him register his 86th international century and his 55th ODI ton.
With this innings, Kohli's ODI tally has climbed to 15,080 runs in 315 matches. His statistical dominance is underscored by an impressive average of 59.13, supported by 55 centuries and 79 half-centuries.
Coach Rajkumar Sharma Hails Kohli's Work Ethic
Reflecting on the achievement, Rajkumar Sharma told ANI that the entire country would be proud of this feat. He specifically highlighted Kohli's ability to perform at such a high level even after a significant gap from action.
"It is a huge achievement, and honestly I am very happy. The whole country is very happy about this. He is a champion player, and he has again shown what he can do," Sharma remarked. He noted that Kohli's performance was a direct result of his intense preparation: "He was playing after a long time, but he showed the kind of work ethic he has and the kind of preparation he does. It was a great innings from him, and the way he dominated, it was great to see."
The Impact of a Match-Winner
Beyond the individual numbers, Sharma emphasized the qualitative impact Kohli has on the Indian team. He pointed out that a significant portion of Kohli's 55 ODI centuries have been instrumental in India's victories.
"The most important thing is how many matches he has won for the country," Sharma added. He also touched upon the widespread sentiment among fans who wish to see the legendary batter continue his career across all formats, including Test cricket, and expressed a collective desire that he does not retire from international cricket anytime soon.
Match Summary: Kohli Steals the Show
The match saw a strong start from the West Indies, with Justin Geaves scoring a century and Amir Jangoo contributing an unbeaten 58 off 43 balls. Despite a 135-run opening partnership, Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav kept the opposition's total under 300 by claiming four crucial wickets.
In the second innings, while captain Shubman Gill provided a solid foundation with a century (110), it was Kohli's lightning-fast 139* that ultimately stole the spotlight and ensured a decisive win for India.