In a spectacular display of cricketing prowess, Virat Kohli, the eminent Indian batsman, was honored with the “Player of the Tournament” accolade in the ICC World Cup 2023. Kohli’s extraordinary performance saw him amass an unprecedented 765 runs across 11 innings, setting a new record for the highest run tally in a single World Cup edition. His remarkable average of 95.62, coupled with a striking rate of 90.3, underscored his dominance on the field.
Virat Kohli Surpasses Tendulkar with 50th ODI Century
The former Indian captain showcased his consistency with six fifties, including a notable 63-ball half-century in the tournament’s final. Notably, this World Cup will be etched in history for Kohli as he surpassed cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar’s record, achieving his 50th One-Day International (ODI) century, eclipsing Tendulkar’s previous record of 49 centuries.
Despite this personal triumph, Kohli’s demeanor reflected disappointment as India fell short of clinching the World Cup title. The high-stakes final at the Narendra Modi Stadium witnessed Australia ending India’s unbeaten streak, securing a 6-wicket victory and claiming their sixth ODI World Cup title.
Virat Kohli’s Mixed Emotions in World Cup Final
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Australian captain Pat Cummins anticipated the pitch’s favorable conditions for batting in the second half due to the dew factor. The Australian bowling unit outshone the Indian batsmen, restricting them to a modest score of 240. KL Rahul emerged as the top scorer with 66 (107), followed by Kohli contributing 54 (63). Mitchell Starc excelled among the bowlers, finishing with figures of 3/55 in his 10 overs.
In a thrilling response, Australia faced early setbacks at 47/3 in the powerplay. However, a resilient 192-run partnership between Travis Head (137) and Marnus Labuschagne (58) tilted the game in Australia’s favor. They successfully chased down the target in 43 overs, with Head rightfully earning the Player of the Match award for his stellar performance.