With a playful tone, Virat Kohli humorously apologized for “stealing” the Player of the Match award from Ravindra Jadeja after his century in the 2023 World Cup match against Bangladesh.
In a post-match press conference following India’s seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in the 2023 World Cup match in Pune on October 19, Virat Kohli playfully expressed his regret for “stealing” the Player-of-the-Match award from Ravindra Jadeja. The 34-year-old batting star also shared his eagerness to turn his recent string of half-centuries into more substantial scores.
Facing a target of 257 set by Bangladesh, Indian openers laid a solid foundation, but it was Kohli who steered the run-chase to victory, notching his record 48th ODI century with a six in the 42nd over. Kohli credited the free hits he received initially for boosting his confidence and noted that the pitch was conducive for aggressive shots. He also extended gratitude to the enthusiastic crowd for their tremendous support throughout the game.
“Sorry for stealing it (the player of the Match award) from Jaddu. I wanted to make a big contribution. Have made fifties in World Cups, wanted to finish it off this time. (Free hits to start off) I was telling Shubman that even if you dream about this situation, you go back to sleep. It was a dream start. It just calms you down,” said Kohli.
Ravindra Jadeja played a pivotal role in setting up the match for India by slowing down the pace after Bangladesh’s brisk start, achieving figures of 2 wickets for 38 runs with his left-arm spin. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj also contributed with two wickets each, while Shardul Thakur and Kuldeep Yadav secured one wicket each.
Virat Kohli, with 48 ODI centuries, now stands just two centuries away from surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 centuries in the format. Kohli’s remarkable performance in the tournament has seen him amass 259 runs in four innings at an impressive average of 129.50. At the top of the run-scoring charts is captain Rohit Sharma, despite a duck against Australia, with 265 runs to his name.
In their next game, the Indian team will face undefeated New Zealand in what promises to be an exciting encounter.
Last Updated on October 20, 2023
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