Ahead of the 2025 Asia Cup, a look back at a knock that redefined batting brilliance
The countdown has started. The Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to take place in the UAE from September 9 to 28, is already the buzz of the cricketing world. India, grouped with PAK, the UAE, and Oman, will kick off their campaign against the hosts on September 10 before facing PAK on September 14 in Dubai — a clash that could be the first of three thrilling encounters between the rivals. With Suryakumar Yadav leading India and Shubman Gill as vice-captain, the team is packed with fiery talent.
But as we await the desert showdown, memories of Virat Kohli’s legendary century against PAK in Colombo during the 2023 Asia Cup still shine brightly. Kohli’s unbeaten 122 was no ordinary century — it was a masterclass built on precision, power, and figures that continue to astonish statisticians.
Here are five stats that demonstrate why this innings deserves a special place of honour.
Kohli’s second gear: 72 runs off 39 balls
Kohli started steadily, reaching 50 off 55 balls. What ensued was an incredible change of gear. In his next 39 deliveries, he scored 72 runs, finishing not out on 122 off 94 balls.
His strike rate during that phase — 184.6 — demonstrated a batsman capable of accelerating at will, dismantling a world-class attack without slogging. It was the perfect Kohli combination: brains first, then brute force.
A fortress called R. Premadasa Stadium
Some batters have lucky venues; for Kohli, Colombo’s R Premadasa is like a cathedral. This century marked his fourth consecutive ODI hundred at the ground.
He boasts an impressive average of 128.20 in ODIs here — the highest for any batsman at a single venue with nine or more innings. Including his T20I numbers (53.4 average with three fifties), the picture becomes clear: Colombo is Kohli’s territory.
Fastest to 13,000 ODI runs
Milestones trail Kohli like shadows. With this innings, he became the fastest batter to reach 13,000 ODI runs, achieving the feat in just 267 innings. To put that into perspective, Sachin Tendulkar required 321 innings. Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara, and Sanath Jayasuriya — the only others in the club — all surpassed the mark after 300-plus innings.
Kohli not only reached the milestone faster but also boasts a stunning career average of 57.62 in ODIs, second only to Babar Azam among players with over 100 innings.
The stand that rewrote history
Batting alongside KL Rahul, Kohli assembled a record-breaking 233-run partnership, the highest for India against Pakistan in ODIs. It surpassed the 231-run partnership between Tendulkar and Navjot Sidhu at Sharjah in 1996.
The pair scored at 7.24 runs per over, demonstrating controlled aggression. This partnership was also India’s second-highest for the third wicket in ODIs, behind Dravid and Tendulkar's 237* against Kenya at the 1999 World Cup.
Joint-highest total against PAK
India’s eventual score of 356/2 equalled their joint-highest ODI total against PAK, matching the 356 they made at Vizag in 2005. More significantly, it was the highest ODI total against PAK at a neutral venue.
Kohli’s century was the beating heart of that effort, giving India a total that was never under threat and producing India a comfortable 228-run victory.
Asia Cup, Kohli’s favourite hunting ground
This century alone cemented Kohli’s reputation as a giant of the Asia Cup. Across 16 ODI matches in the tournament, he averages 61.83 at a strike rate near 100, with four centuries and 742 runs.
And let’s not forget — his 183 against PAK in 2012 remains the highest individual score in Asia Cup history.
