Former Indian skipper and veteran batter Virat Kohli completed his 46th ODI century during the third and last of the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka. The 34-year-old played a sensational knock of 166 runs off 110 balls with 13 boundaries and eight maximums to his name. Notably, it was also the 21st ODI century at home soil for the Delhi batter and he has now surpassed the former legendary Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar in terms of highest ODI centuries on Indian soil.
Apart from his other amazing shots in the entire innings, the one that attracted the eyeballs of the Indian cricket fans was a six on the helicopter shot. Kohli smashed this six on the fourth ball of the 44th over off Kasun Rajitha. The latter tried to deliver a slower one outside the off stump but Kohli powered it over the long-on region.
This shot from Kohli gave a glimpse of former legendary Indian wicketkeeper-batter and skipper MS Dhoni. The fans immediately took to Twitter and recalled the two-time world cup winner skipper Dhoni.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Voh laut aaya he! 👽
— Mayurrrr💜 (@themayurchouhan) January 15, 2023
That's a step out helicopter with a mix of ABD in the end.
— Aditya Bawane (@adityabawane18) January 15, 2023
My goodness what a shot this is 😂😂😂 When he’s playing like that you don’t know whether to laugh or cry because it’s just ridiculous talent on show 🔥
— Schrödinger's Cat (@Maverick2718) January 15, 2023
What a shot by king kohli😍
— Dhawal Kumar (@DhawalK887853) January 15, 2023
— Sachin Dev Sharma (@SachinDevShrmaa) January 15, 2023
Helicopter shot in italics
— TOO MUCH PATRIOTIC 🏹 (@hoomanity_) January 15, 2023
Shot of the day!⚡️😍 pic.twitter.com/OrvjzkYeC1
— Sanjay v (@Mimi_Kriti) January 15, 2023
A proud MSD must have been clapping.
— Bhargav Mitra (@bhargav_mitra) January 15, 2023
Pov : Kohli playing Helicopter shot ❤️❤️🔥🔥
— Raihan (@beast_gohaan) January 15, 2023
More stylish version of helicopter shot
— Raghuwanshi Mayank Walya (@Walyamayank2) January 15, 2023
Modified helicopter shot😍
— Bhaskar Ojha (@bhaskarjee09) January 16, 2023
Virat Kohli ended up the series being the highest run-scorer and won the ‘player of the series award for his brilliant batting performances throughout the entire series. The right-hander scored 283 runs in three innings of the three ODIs in the series against the Islanders. He registered two centuries to his name with an outstanding average of 141.50.
Apart from that, he was also adjudged ‘player of the match for his match-defining knock in the last ODI of the series at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
Now, the veteran of 46 ODI centuries will be in action during the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand. Both teams will play the first of the three-match ODI series at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad.