In a starkly quiet setting far removed from the electrifying stadiums he usually dominates, Virat Kohli scripted a monumental chapter in cricket history. Playing for Delhi against Andhra in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Wednesday, the superstar batter broke a legendary record held by Sachin Tendulkar.
A Historic Feat in a Humble Setting
The scene was the BCCI Centre of Excellence, located roughly 36 kilometres from Bengaluru's roaring M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Instead of tens of thousands, only about a hundred spectators watched from trucks, trees, and compound walls. Despite the unfamiliar and subdued atmosphere, Kohli carved out a masterful 101-ball 131, a knock that powered Delhi to a convincing four-wicket victory.
More importantly, during this innings, Kohli became the fastest batsman in history to score 16,000 runs in men's List A cricket. He achieved this landmark in his 330th innings, surpassing the previous record held by Sachin Tendulkar, who had taken 391 innings to reach the same milestone.
Kohli's Commanding Knock and Delhi's Chase
Andhra, put in to bat first, posted a competitive total of 298 for 8, largely due to a splendid century (122 off 105 balls) from Ricky Bhui. For Delhi, Simranjeet Singh was the pick of the bowlers, claiming an impressive 5 wickets for 54 runs.
In reply, Delhi's chase was spearheaded by Kohli's brilliance. He was ably supported by opener Priyansh Arya, who scored 74, and Nitish Rana, who contributed a quickfire 77. Their efforts ensured Delhi chased down the target of 299 in just 37.4 overs, securing a comfortable win.
Kohli's innings was a blend of trademark precision and controlled aggression. He opened his account with a lofted drive and soon found his rhythm. Despite being dropped twice—on 32 and 97—he punished the Andhra bowlers relentlessly. He reached his half-century in just 39 balls and continued to accelerate, unleashing 14 fours and 3 sixes on his way to his 58th List A century.
A Return to Domestic Cricket Justifies the Hype
The match marked Kohli's much-anticipated return to domestic cricket, and his performance fully justified the weeks of build-up. It served as a powerful reminder of his class and hunger for runs, coming on the back of a prolific series against South Africa where he amassed 302 runs.
The irony of such a historic performance occurring without live television coverage and in front of a minuscule live audience was not lost on observers. Yet, for those present and for the record books, it was a day defined by Virat Kohli's towering presence and another record etched into cricketing folklore.
Brief Scores: Andhra 298/8 in 50 overs (Ricky Bhui 122; Simranjeet Singh 5-54) lost to Delhi 300/6 in 37.4 overs (Virat Kohli 131, Priyansh Arya 74, Nitish Rana 77).
