Virat Kohli List A Record: Fresh off a century against Andhra, Virat Kohli walked out at the BCCI Centre of Excellence looking incredibly sharp. He faced a Gujarat attack that seemed intent on slowing him down. The Delhi number three didn't hang around, immediately taking charge by hitting pacer Chintan Gaja for a crisp drive down the ground to set the tone.
While his teammates found it hard to get going against the moving ball, Kohli worked the gaps with ease. He moved into the 30s in just 16 balls, mixing classic cover drives with some powerful pulls. This kept the runs coming even as wickets fell at the other end.
The energy in Bengaluru picked up as Kohli neared his fifty, reaching the mark in only 29 balls. The 37-year-old's aggressive approach forced the Gujarat bowlers to change their lengths. However, he still found the boundary at will. Kohli smashed 13 fours and a massive six. Vishal Jayswal eventually got him out for a well-made 77 off 61 balls, with Urvil Patel sharp behind the stumps. Still, his knock gave Delhi the platform they needed for a total of 254.
Rewriting List A History: Virat Kohli List A Record
Kohli’s performance against Gujarat did more than just steady the ship for Delhi. It proved once again why he is the most consistent batter in the history of List A cricket. By passing the long-time record held by Australian great Michael Bevan, Kohli now has the highest batting average in List A history at 57.87. This feat shows how well the former Indian captain has scored runs year after year. He edged past Bevan’s average of 57.86. It was a number that had been the gold standard for a long time.
On top of the world record, Kohli also passed 1,000 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy during this game. He hit that milestone in only his 15th innings. It goes on to show just how dangerous he is in India’s top 50-over tournament. These personal records came at the right time for Delhi’s season and show that Kohli is as hungry for runs as he has ever been.
Anchoring Delhi to a Narrow Victory
After Kohli got out, Rishabh Pant took over. He hit a solid 70 to help the team reach a defendable total. Gujarat put up a real fight in the chase, as Aarya Desai and Saurav Chauhan looked like they might snatch a win. However, Delhi’s bowlers kept their cool when it mattered most.
Prince Yadav and Ishant Sharma picked up vital wickets. Kohli even chipped in by taking the final catch to remove Ravi Bishnoi. Delhi ultimately clinched the contest by seven runs. It was a result that put them at the top of the Group D standings.
