Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.
Venue- Centurion Park, Centurion [February 16, 2018].
In the year 2018, the Indian Cricket Team scripted history. For the very first time, they won an ODI series in the rainbow nation. Interestingly, the series was won in the 5th ODI itself, and when the teams assembled for the final match at Centurion, it was very much a dead rubber.
However, everyone was expecting that the Proteas would not give up so easily and would try to win this game. But the Indians under Captain Kohli delivered one of their finest performances that day. The men in blue, after winning the toss, asked the Proteas to bat first and reduced them to just 204 runs in 46.5 overs. The South Africans were literally struggling before the Indian bowling line-up. It appeared as if India was playing in its backyard. An Indian victory was just a matter of time.
Virat Kohli, who was in the form of his life, scored a quickfire 129* off just 96 deliveries as India won the match by 8 wickets with 107 balls to spare. It is pertinent to note that the pitch was not that easy to bat. Be it the Proteas or the Indians, everyone struggled on that wicket. However, King Kohli was in a different zone altogether. The way he led the attack from the front was quite amazing. In the previous matches of the series, we saw Kohli scoring runs mostly by rotating the strike. But this time it was all about shots and power-hitting.
The humiliation was well and truly complete as the Proteas suffered a 1-5 defeat on their own soil. Captain Kohli was awarded both the player of the match and player of the series awards for his excellent contribution with the bat.
558 runs in 6 ODIs. It was truly one of the greatest performances by one of the greatest players.
To watch the Innings of Virat Kohli, Click Here.
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