BENGALURU: Star Indian batter Virat Kohli stunned the cricketing world as he picked up an ODI after nine years during his side’s ICC World Cup 2023 clash against the Netherlands.
While the bottom-ranked side were batting cautiously in their 411-run pursuit, Indian captain Rohit Sharma handed the ball to Virat Kohli.
The right-arm medium pace bowler struck in his second over when a delivery drifting down the leg side, marked the end of Dutch skipper Scott Edwards’ knock.
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It was Virat Kohli’s fifth wicket in ODIs and his first since 2014 when he dismissed New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum in Wellington.
His last wicket in international cricket, however, came back in 2016 when he dismissed the West Indian opener Johnson Charles in a high-octane T20 World Cup semi-final.
Virat Kohli had a brief stint with the ball earlier in this World Cup when all-rounder Hardik Pandya limped off the field midway through an over against Bangladesh.
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In his usual role for India, Virat Kohli contributed significantly with an anchoring half-century.
The right-handed batter scored 51 in 56 deliveries with the help of five boundaries and a six.
He was one of the five Indian batters, who scored fifty-plus runs against the struggling Dutch bowling attack.
Indian openers Rohit Sharma and top-ranked ODI batter Shubman Gill gave India a flying start with a sensational 100-run partnership.
Gill was the first batter to be perished. He departed after scoring a 32-ball 51, laced with three boundaries and four sixes.
Sharma soon followed him after a 54-ball 61 which included eight boundaries and two sixes.
Virat Kohli then anchored the proceedings for India amid his 71-run partnership with Shreyas Iyer before the former perished soon after reaching his half-century.
Iyer was then joined by KL Rahul and the duo bolstered India’s total past the 400-run mark with brisk centuries.
Shreyas Iyer top-scored for India with an unbeaten 128 in 94 deliveries with the help of 10 boundaries and five sixes.
Rahul, on the other hand, scored 102 in 64 deliveries, peppered with 11 boundaries and four sixes.
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