Virat Kohli: ODI maestro back at his imperious best | Cricket News – Times of India

<p>Virat Kohli is looking hungrier for big runs and has started producing those with consummate ease and effortless strokeplay. </p>

<p>On Sunday, Kohli broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 20 ODI centuries on home soil and his unbeaten 166 was the 46th of his career in this format.</p>

<p>During the course of his innings, Kohli also went past Mahela Jayawardene to rise to fifth in ODI’s all-time run-scorers chart. </p>

<p>But much more than those numbers, it is the manner in which Kohli is scoring the runs that will be giving the rival bowlers sleepless nights. </p>

<p>Kohli started showing signs of returning to form in the Asia Cup last year. </p>

<p>Kohli’s match-winning unbeaten 82 against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup was a classic and he translated the T20 form that he showed in the latter half of last year into ODIs. </p>

<p>The longer format also gives Kohli time and space to pace his innings. </p>

<p>After going century-less for more than three years, Kohli has now three tons in his last four innings. </p>

<p>On Sunday, Kohli looked in ominous touch the moment he arrived at the crease. </p>

<p>Kohli started with a cracking drive through the mid-off region off just the second ball he faced. From then on there was no looking back. </p>

<p>Kohli cut, drove, and pulled the hapless bowlers in all directions. </p>

<p>At 34, Kohli is still the fittest member of this Indian team and that is helping him pinch singles and twos to supplement his brilliant stroke-making. </p>

<p>However, the biggest takeaway from Kohli’s innings was how he accelerated to perfection. </p>

<p>Kohli’s first 50 came off 48 balls and was laced with five fours. </p>

<p>Kohli increased his pace and reached the three-figure mark off 85 balls and it contained eight fours and a six. </p>

<p>Kohli pushed the pedal on the accelerator once he crossed 100 and by the time he walked back at the end of his innings, he had eight sixes and 13 fours in his 110-ball knock. </p>

<p>Kohli has amassed 12,754 runs in 268 ODIs for India, behind Sachin Tendulkar (18,426), Kumar Sangakkara (14,234), Ricky Ponting (13,704) and Sanath Jayasuriya (13,430).</p>

<p>Kohli took the score close to 400 as India smashed 116 runs in the last 10 overs with contributing 84 of those.</p>

<p>Kohli felt that it is his mindset that is helping him get those big knocks again. </p>