NEW DELHI, Feb. 17 (TNS): Indian skipper Virat Kohli continued his sublime form in the ongoing tour of South Africa and created yet another world record by becoming the first batsman ever to score 500 runs in a bilateral ODI series.
Kohli achieved the feat during the sixth and final ODI of the series against South Africa when he reached on 71 with a cover drive boundary off Andile Phehlukwayo.
Kohli went on to score his 35th ODI hundred, his third of the series and also the first by an Indian batsman in a bilateral series, off just 82 balls to help India register an emphatic eight-wicket victory over the hosts at SuperSport Park in Centurion. Kohli’s whirlwind knock of 129 not out off 96 balls was laced with 19 fours and two sixes. With this victory, India clinched the six-match series 5-1.
The 29-year-old Kohli surpassed his compatriot Rohit Sharma’s tally of 491 runs against Australia in 2013-14 for the biggest run haul in any bilateral ODI series. Former Australia captain George Bailey is third in the list with 478 runs against India in 2013-14.
“I have got eight or nine years left in my career and I want to make the most of every day. It’s a blessing that I am healthy and getting to captain my country,” Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Kohli attributed his success to wife Anushka Sharma, for being a pillar of strength during tough times.
