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As India gears up for the decisive third ODI against Sri Lanka on August 7 at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo, all eyes are on Virat Kohli, the team’s renowned batting maestro.
With India trailing in the series after two challenging ODIs, the final match represents a crucial opportunity for Rohit Sharma’s side to turn things around. The team’s performance has been inconsistent, particularly with the batting unit struggling to deliver in the earlier games.
Virat Kohli will aim to rediscover his form and lead India to a series-saving victory in the crucial final ODI against Sri Lanka.
Following a tie in the opening ODI and a disappointing defeat in the second, India finds itself on the verge of an unusual bilateral series loss to Sri Lanka. The Indian batting lineup, despite strong starts, has faltered against Sri Lankan spinners, with the middle order collapsing after the departure of skipper Rohit Sharma, who scored fifties in both games.
Virat Kohli, widely regarded as one of the greatest ODI players ever, has been far from his best in the series. Despite coming off a match-winning performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, Kohli’s form in Sri Lanka has been lackluster, with scores of 24 and 14 in the first two ODIs. Known for his impressive record in Sri Lanka, Kohli’s current performance has been underwhelming. However, the final ODI offers him a crucial chance to not only secure a vital win for India but also to achieve a significant milestone in his illustrious career.
Virat Kohli is on the cusp of breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record as India aims to recover in the third ODI against Sri Lanka.
Virat Kohli is on the verge of a significant achievement, poised to become the fastest player to reach 14,000 runs in ODI cricket. With 13,846 runs to his credit and just 114 runs needed, Kohli is set to surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s record for reaching this milestone in 350 ODI innings.
Currently, Kohli has accomplished this in only 282 innings. A standout performance in the third and final ODI against Sri Lanka could see him break Tendulkar’s long-standing record. Kohli boasts a formidable record against Sri Lanka, having scored 2,618 runs at an average of 62.33 in 54 ODIs, including 10 centuries and 12 fifties. His overall performance against the Sri Lankans in 72 international matches includes 4,042 runs at an average of 64.15, with 15 centuries and 18 fifties.
Following this ODI series, the focus will shift to Test cricket as India prepares to host Bangladesh for a two-match Test series starting on September 21.
