Virat Kohli scored a tremendous 107 against Pakistan in their ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 encounter. He was dropped twice on the way, but always looked like his century was on the cards. Shiamak Unwalla has more.
Marlon Brando said in his role as Don Vito Corelone in The Godfather, “Every man has but one destiny.” Never has that seemed truer than when Virat Kohli scored his century against Pakistan in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. Live Score – India vs Pakistan
Right from the time he came to the crease, Kohli exuded a calmness that seemed almost uncharacteristic of him. He looked a bit tentative early on, but that was understandable given that he had not quit been amongst the runs in the last few games. He was on five off 17 balls before hitting his first boundary: an authoritative pull through midwicket. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: POINTS TABLE
His next boundary was a sweep through square leg — a shot he played a lot the last time he scored a century at Adelaide — that took him to 20 off 30. His next two boundaries came in the same over off Yasir Shah, both outstanding shots on the off-side, the second of which took him into the 40s. Once he crossed his fifty there was no going back. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: SCHEDULE & MATCH DETAILS
But before Kohli could even get to double figures, he was put down by Yasir at long-on off an attempted pull. He was later dropped by Umar Akmal off Haris Sohail. Throughout all this, his calmness never fluttered. He smiled easily and often, even when Afridi threw the ball at his bottom on the way to the stumps. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Complete Coverage
Kohli batted as if he knew exactly how he would score his runs. He didn’t bother with the field placements or who was bowling. He saw the gaps and worked the ball around. His timing was as good as ever. There was almost an air of inevitability, as there has been every time Kohli has come in to bat at Adelaide.
When he finally got his century, off 119 balls, there was no abuse, no kisses, no heated gesticulations. He looked to the heavens, much like that other indomitable Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar. But Kohli had done what even Tendulkar could not: score a World Cup century against Pakistan. He became the only Indian batsman ever to do so and the second overall after Saeed Anwar.
India may or may not win the match, but Kohli has ensured that he will go down in the annals of India-Pakistan history. Looking at him, though, it felt like it was just another day in the office. And for Kohli, it was.
(Shiamak Unwalla, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a self-confessed Sci-Fi geek and Cricket fanatic. You can follow him on Twitter @ShiamakUnwalla)
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