Virat Kohli's 103 not out takes India to target of 257 vs Bangladesh and to fourth straight win at Cricket World Cup; Kohli seals 97-ball hundred and victory with a six; India face fellow unbeaten side New Zealand in Dharamshala on Sunday and will be without Hardik Pandya (ankle)
Friday 20 October 2023 12:11, UK
Virat Kohli's unbeaten 103 steered World Cup favourites India to a fourth win from four as his side beat Bangladesh by seven wickets - but the host nation are now sweating on the fitness of Hardik Pandya.
Kohli clinched his 48th one-day international century - just one shy of Sachin Tendulkar's record in the format - from 97 balls with the match-winning six as he and KL Rahul (34no off 34) plotted how to get the former to three figures at the backend of India's successful chase of 257 in Pune.
The 34-year-old turned down singles late in the innings as he looked for the twos and boundaries he needed to reach his ton and achieved the milestone when he smoked Nasum Ahmed over deep midwicket as India triumphed with 51 balls to spare.
India's victory over a Bangladesh side shorn of regular captain Shakib Al Hasan due to a quad niggle moves them level on points with New Zealand at the top of the standings ahead of the teams' meeting in Dharamshala on Sunday, a game Hardik will now miss through injury.
Hardik hobbled off three balls into the ninth over of Thursday's match after twisting his left ankle attempting to field off his own bowling, with Kohli subsequently completing the over to huge cheers from the India supporters.
Hardik did not return to the field as Bangladesh posted 256-8 and was not required to bat as India eased home thanks principally to Kohli, Shubman Gill (53 off 55), Rohit Sharma (48 off 40) and Rahul.
Speaking on Hardik at the presentation, India skipper Rohit said: "He pulled up a bit sore. There is no major damage, that is good for us. But obviously with an injury like that, we have to assess every day and we will do whatever is required."
Bangladesh's hopes of upsetting India were boosted by an opening stand of 93 between Liton Das (66) and Tanzid Hasan (51), achieved after India failed to review for Tanzid lbw to Jasprit Bumrah on six.
Tanzid's eight boundaries in his maiden ODI fifty included three in a row off Shardul Thakur in the 10th over - two sixes sandwiching a four - before he was first man out, lbw to Kuldeep Yadav in the 15th.
Bangladesh lost wickets at regular intervals from that point on with Mahmudullah (46) and Mushfiqur Rahim (38) the only other players to pass 16 as Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja each struck twice.
Jadeja was the most economical bowler, recording figures of 2-38 from his 10, with his scalps including Liton caught at long-off, while he also took an excellent diving catch at backward point to dismiss Mushfiqur.
The grab of the innings, though, came from wicketkeeper Rahul, who leapt one-handed to his left to catch Mehidy Hasan Miraz (3).
In reply, India openers Rohit and Gill put on 88 inside 13 overs before both holed out in the deep - Rohit plinking a short ball from Hasan Mahmud to deep square before Gill heaved a fuller delivery from spinner Mehidy to deep midwicket after adding 44 from 42 balls with Kohli.
Kohli went on to share a partnership of 46 from 59 deliveries with Shreyas Iyer (19) before the latter hauled Mehidy to deep midwicket, leaving Kohli and Rahul to knock off the further 69 runs required.
Kohli was the only run scorer, other than wides, in the final 2.3 overs of the game, smoking Nasum for four and six in the 40th over and then sending the same bowler into the stands midway through the 42nd.
Player of the Match, Virat Kohli (103no off 97 balls):
"I wanted to make a big contribution. I have made fifties but wanted to finish it off this time. The pitch was good, allowed me to play my game - hit the gap, find the boundaries whenever I could.
"There is a great atmosphere in the dressing room, the spirit is there for everyone to see. You need to create some momentum in the changing room to come out and play like this. It is a special feeling to play in front of such crowds."
India captain Rohit Sharma:
"It was a good win. We did not start well but we pulled it back well in the middle stages and at the backend as well.
"The last three games we have played our fielding has been superb and we continued that today. It is something that is in your control. You try and put in as much effort as you can.
"All of us in the squad have gone through the pressure of crowds coming in big numbers. It is special for us. The crowd has not disappointed us and I am pretty sure it is going to get bigger and louder moving forward."
Stand-in Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto:
"India are always a very good side. They showed us today that they can play better cricket (than us). We did not play our best game but hopefully we can do that in the future.
"We did not finish well (with the bat). If Tanzid and Liton batted longer, it could have been a different ballgame. Hopefully in the next game, our batters can take responsibility."
Pakistan face Australia in Bangalore on Friday (9am on air on Sky Sports Cricket ahead of the first ball at 9.30am) with Babar Azam's men looking to bounce back from their seven-wicket hammering by India in Ahmedabad last weekend.
Opponents Australia began their campaign with successive defeats to India and South Africa but then saw off Sri Lanka by five wickets on Tuesday to chalk up their first two points of the competition.
Saturday at the World Cup, meanwhile, is a two-game affair, with Netherlands vs Sri Lanka the earlier offering (6am first ball) and then England and South Africa meeting later on (9.30am first ball).
Both England and South Africa suffered shock defeats in their previous matches, with Jos Buttler's men beaten by Afghanistan in Delhi and the Proteas stunned by Netherlands in Dharamshala.
