Asia Cup 2023: Rain of records for India at Colombo against Pakistan

The Indian batters put on a remarkable display against Pakistan in Colombo in Super four round of Asia cup 2023, spanning two days of intense cricket. The top-order batsmen displayed their prowess, with the top two notching half-centuries and the following two registering centuries at an impressive run rate. Here are some key statistical highlights from this memorable Indian innings:

1. India’s total of 356 for 2 equals their highest score against Pakistan in ODIs. The last time they achieved such a total was during the 2005 home series in Visakhapatnam when they scored 356 for 9. Furthermore, this total stands as the fourth-highest ever recorded by any team in an ODI Asia Cup.
2. The partnership between Virat Kohli and KL Rahul for the third wicket was a record-breaker, reaching an impressive 233*. This stands as the highest partnership for any wicket in an ODI Asia Cup, surpassing the previous record of 224 runs set by Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed against India in 2012.
3. The Kohli-Rahul partnership is not only an Asia Cup record but also the highest for India against Pakistan in ODIs, eclipsing the 231-run partnership between Sachin Tendulkar and Navjot Singh Sidhu in 1996.
4. Virat Kohli’s tally of 13,024 runs in ODI cricket is a remarkable feat. He is now one of only five batters to reach 13,000 ODI runs, achieving this milestone in a mere 267 innings, which is 54 innings fewer than the previous fastest, Sachin Tendulkar (321). Kohli is also just two ODI hundreds away from equaling Tendulkar’s record of 49 centuries.
5. Kohli’s dominance at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo is evident as he secured four consecutive hundreds in ODIs at this venue. The only other batter with such an accomplishment is Hashim Amla, who achieved it at Centurion’s SuperSport Park between 2015 and 2017.
6. KL Rahul has demonstrated exceptional consistency while batting at No. 4 and lower in ODIs since the beginning of 2020, boasting an average of 64.68. During this period, he has accumulated 1035 runs in 21 innings at these positions, including three centuries and seven half-centuries.
7. Virat Kohli’s performance in the ODI Asia Cup is equally impressive, as he now boasts four centuries in the tournament. Only Sanath Jayasuriya (6) has scored more centuries in the Asia Cup, while Kumar Sangakkara also had four. Kohli’s previous three centuries in the ODI Asia Cup were recorded across the 2012 and 2014 editions.
8. India’s ability to complete their 50 overs with the loss of only two wickets is a rare feat, occurring only four times in ODIs. This achievement in Colombo is the first for India since the 2003 World Cup match against Namibia. It is also only the third instance of Pakistan picking up only two wickets after bowling 50 or more overs in an ODI.