India skipper Virat Kohli on Wednesday became the fastest batsman to score 12,000 ODI runs. Kohli achieved the feat during the ongoing third ODI against Australia, being played at the Manuka Oval. Kohli, before the start of the match, needed 23 runs more to achieve the feat. He reached the mark in the first ball of the 12th over when he took a single off pacer Sean Abbott.
Tendulkar had reached the mark in his 300th innings (341st ODI) when he had smashed a boundary against Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi at Centurion in 2003. He took only 242 innings to touch the figure. Overall, Kohli is the sixth player in the list, only after Australia’s Ricky Ponting, Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya, and Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene.
“12,000 ODI runs for Virat Kohli. He has become the fastest batsman to reach the milestone, in just 242 innings,” tweetd International Cricket Council (ICC).
India won the toss and opted to bat first in the third and final ODI against Australia. Australia have already sealed the three-match ODI series against India as the hosts enjoy an unassailable 2-0 lead.
“We will bat first. Looks a nice wicket and the last time we played here it was a really good wicket to bat on. Want to bat well and put the opposition under pressure. Need to improve the body language in the field and the bowling as well. It’s a result of us not being consistent in the last two games, we are gonna try a few things tonight and see how it goes,” Virat Kohli said at the toss. Although India have already lost the three-match series, the Virat Kohli-led side still has much to play for in the final ODI of the series. India can earn points in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League.
