Virat Kohli might just be the greatest ODI batter of all time. The former India skipper started his journey to greatness on December 24, 2009. This day was the start of it all. Kohli currently has 80 centuries in international cricket, but he wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t gotten his first one in 2009 against Sri Lanka in Eden Gardens.
Having debuted in 2008, Kohli was 13 matches in and had already scored three 50s. But his first century was eluding him. Who knew that when he stepped in to bat, it would be the first of his 50 ODI centuries?
Virat Kohli: Birth of the chasing GOAT
21-year-old Virat Kohli showed glimpses of what he would be in years to come on his day. It isn’t a coincidence that he scored his first ODI century in a chase.
With India’s cricket team chasing a mammoth 316, the Men in Blue lost Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag by the fourth over. With India 23-2 after 3.4 overs, in walked Kohli.
The batter joined his senior from Delhi, Gautam Gambhir, as the duo displayed brilliance. The duo from Delhi scripted a 224-run stand, which helped India cruise their way to 316 with 11 balls to spare.
While Gambhir was adjudged ‘man of the match’ for his 150*, he handed the award to Virat Kohli for his maiden ton. Gambhir had been playing international cricket for 6 years by that point and took the onus to celebrate the youngster.
His first ODI ton saw him score 107 off 114 balls with 11 boundaries and 1 maximum to his name. December 24, 2009, remains the most important day of Virat Kohli’s cricketing career—the start of it all.
