IND vs SL: On 2nd November, the bustling stadium of Mumbai will come alive as India takes on Sri Lanka in the 33rd match of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 (CWC 2023). A key highlight of this much-anticipated match is the presence of India’s maestro, Virat Kohli. His record against Sri Lanka has been nothing short of extraordinary, and cricket aficionados await another masterclass.
The Formidable Kohli in CWC 2023:
Virat Kohli has been in sterling form in this World Cup. He’s been a lynchpin in India’s batting lineup, providing the necessary stability and aggression. The search for a century has been a constant theme for Kohli in this edition, and he has come close to the magical three-figure mark twice. While he clinched a century against Bangladesh, he missed out on a big one against New Zealand in Dharamsala by going for the big shots.
Performance So Far:
IND vs SL: In the six encounters thus far, Kohli’s bat has produced a mammoth 354 runs at an astounding average of 88.50. The prowess of his batting can be gauged by the fact that he has hit one century and three fifties, remaining unbeaten in two of the matches. However, every great story has its troughs. Kohli faced a rare blip against England, getting dismissed without troubling the scorers.
Kohli vs Sri Lanka – A Historic Rivalry:
Sri Lanka, historically, has been a team Kohli enjoys batting against. Since 2008, in the 52 matches played against the island nation, he has amassed 2506 runs in 50 innings, with an enviable average of 62.65. His record includes 10 centuries and 11 fifties. This places Kohli second on the list of the highest run-scorers in ODIs against Sri Lanka.
World Cup Encounters with Sri Lanka:
IND vs SL: In the World Cup saga, Kohli has faced Sri Lanka twice. He played a pivotal role in the 2011 World Cup final, stitching together an 83-run partnership with Gautam Gambhir. Kohli’s contribution of 35 runs in that game laid the foundation for India’s historic win. His second encounter was in the 2019 World Cup, where he played a steady innings, scoring an unbeaten 34, guiding India to a comfortable victory chasing Sri Lanka’s target of 265.
Anticipation Builds for the Mumbai Showdown:
With a track record that speaks volumes and a thirst for big scores, all eyes will be on Virat Kohli as he steps onto the field against Sri Lanka. The Mumbaikar crowd, known for its passion, will be rooting for their hero to score another century. Given his history and current form, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Kohli rises to the occasion once more, solidifying his place as one of the greatest batsmen the game has ever seen.
Image Credit – timesnownews
