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| Can Kohli do today Photo: X Virat Kohli The name is enough. The owner of 49 centuries in ODI cricket does not need to be re-introduced. He has written a success story in the current World Cup as well. So far he has scored two centuries, five fifties. |
Kohli is the highest run scorer in this World Cup so far with 594 runs at an average of 99. This successful Kohli now has to stand in front of a test. You can think, come to this age Kohli and what test? Is there any evidence left?
There is one test left. The Indian star has failed in the previous three stages of the test. That is the semi-final test of ODI World Cup. Earlier, Kohli played in the semi-finals of the ODI World Cup three times. Kohli has been out in single digits all three times. There is another similarity. Kohli has been dismissed thrice by a left-arm pacer. The former Indian captain will have to play against one of those three in the semi-final today.
Kohli played his first World Cup at home in 2011. Kohli scored only 9 runs before being dismissed by Pakistan's Wahab Riaz in the semi-final of the service. Kohli's failure in that match did not affect the team much. India beat Pakistan by 29 runs to reach the final. And in the final they beat Sri Lanka.
Kohli's India also reached the semi-finals of the 2015 World Cup. In this match, Kohli returned to Mitchell Johnson's bouncer. Scored 1 run in just 13 balls. India lost that semi-final by 95 runs. With a target of 329 runs, India can score 233 runs.
Same story in the next World Cup. This time Kohli became a victim of Trent Boult. He scored just 1 run before being lbw by this left-arm pacer. Kohli's team lost by 18 runs in the rain-hit two-day semi-final. Being the service captain, the responsibility was a bit more for the Indian star. Which he couldn't do.
India's opponent this time is New Zealand. Kohli's opponent is Boult. Can Kohli handle the bolt-barrier? Can you manage to get good marks in the semi-final exam and pass? Kohli might want to take this test this time. Because, this could be the last ODI World Cup for the 35-year-old Kohli.
Not just the semi-finals of the ODI World Cup. Kohli has rarely been at his best in knockout matches in international cricket. Kohli, who has 79 centuries, is yet to hit a century in a knockout match in international cricket. Kohli may want to end that drought in Wankhede today. And if he can do this, he will become the first batsman to make a record of 50 centuries in ODIs.
Kohli can also take inspiration from one place to do such a thing. It is the home ground of the 2016 T20 World Cup semi-final. That match also took place at Wankhede in Mumbai. Kohli played an unbeaten innings of 89 runs off 47 balls in that semi-final against the West Indies. However, even after playing such an innings, India lost in the semi-final. Can Kohli use that confidence to do something great?
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