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Asia Cup | Kohli, Rahul & Kuldeep Outflank PAK On Reserve Day In Big Indian Win

image-lmf5tthgVirat Kohli celebrates his 47th ODI ton (AP)

Team India outplayed Pakistan in all aspects of the game in their latest Asia Cup 2023 Super Four duel in Colombo. After rains enforced a reserve day, overnight Indian batters Virat Kohli and KL Rahul plundered majestic centuries while ace spinner Kuldeep Yadav outfoxed the in-form Pakistani batting line-up for a stunning five-fer.


Virat Kohli, KL Rahul run-fest lift India to 356

Half-centuries from openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill on Day 1 were followed by majestic hundreds from number three Virat Kohli and comeback man KL Rahul on the reserved day as India mounted a colossal 356-2 from their 50 overs.

Virat Kohli's innings marked his 47th century in ODIs, and the knock itself was laced with several unseen accolades. For starters, the cricketer completed 13,000 runs in the format during the course of his batting blitz, thus becoming only the fifth in history and the fastest among them all to do so.


Only Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan emerged as wicket-takers from the Pakistani camp, all while costing more than 70 runs from their 10-over quota.


Pandya gets Babar, Kuldeep gets others

Pakistan's run-chase never took off, as opener FakharZaman's mere 27 turned out to be the biggest benefactor from their lopsided effort. Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah got the ball moving at the top, and he deceived Imam-ul-Haq in doing so.

Hardik Pandya got the prized scalp of Pakistan captain and run-machine Babar Azam for just 10. Ace spinner Kuldeep Yadav struck five times in his eight overs to dust out the men in Green'’ response for just 128 in 32 overs. Notably, numbers 10 and 11, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, did not come out to bat as they continued to recover from their respective injuries.

Rohit Sharma's troops took home the game by 228 runs and also opened their Super Four Asia Cup 2023 account with two points.


Brief Scores

India: 356-2 (50)
Virat Kohli 122* (94), KL Rahul 111* (106)
Shadab Khan 1-71 (10), Shaheen Afridi 1-79 (10)

Pakistan: 128 (32)
Fakhar Zaman 27 (50), Agha Salman 23 (32)
Kuldeep Yadav 5-25 (8), Shardul Thakur 1-16 (4)

India won by 228 runs.