IND vs SL: Virat Kohli’s majestic 113-run knock steers India to 373 in 1st ODI vs Sri Lanka

Flamboyant India batter Virat Kohli carved out a sensational 113-run knock which helped the side to attain a total of 373 runs in their stipulated 50 overs in the first ODI. Led by Rohit Sharma, the Men in Blue have locked horns with neighbours Sri Lanka in the first of the three-match ODI series at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. 

Put to bat first by the Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka, the top-order operated in tandem to post the mammoth total in their first innings. Kohli, who marked his return to the side after being rested in the T20Is, took the series opener head-on and registered a century to his name in 80 balls. 

The swashbuckling right-hander initially began playing his innings delicately and then shifted gears as the innings progressed. It seemed as though the batter was on a mission to get those vital runs for the side after the dismissal of opener Shubman Gill, who was dismissed for 70 runs from 60 balls.

The Islanders were left perplexed with the kind of batting displayed not just by Kohli but the openers as well. Soon after the dismissal of skipper Rohit, Kohli took control of the innings and steered the side to get past 350. The batter played out his natural game and displayed his applaud-worthy drives to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Kohli was dropped on 52 and 81

However, on two occasions the Lankan side were on the cusp of getting the big shark dismissed but failed to do so. Kasun Rajitha, the bowler on both the occasions, was close to getting the crucial wicket of an in-form Kohli, who was dropped by wicket-keeper Kusal Mendis and skipper Shanaka on two separate occasions. The flamboyant right hander took the lost chances, made the opposition pay and capitalized by scoring his first century (113 runs) in the calendar year 2023, his 45th century in the format.

The onus will be on the Indian bowling unit to defend the massive total as the Lankan Lions will be on the lookout to replicate a similar innings. It remains to be seen if the visitors can tilt the momentum in their favour in the second half with a lot of dew predicted.

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