Virat Kohli put on a show with the bat in the ongoing first ODI against Sri Lanka at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.
Batting at No. 3, Kohli slammed 113 off 87 balls, propelling the hosts to a mammoth 373/7 in their allotted 50 overs. His innings was studded with 12 fours and 1 six.
During the knock, the right-hander got a couple of lifelines as Kusal Mendis and Dasun Shanaka dropped his catches after he crossed his half-century.
Taking complete advantage of the reprieves, Virat went on to smash his 45th hundred in the 50-over format and his first ODI century at home since March 2019.
Speaking in the mid-innings, Virat Kohli said that the break from the T20I series helped him as he was fresh after the Bangladesh tour.
“I have had a bit of break, and a couple of practice sessions coming into this game, so I was fresh after that Bangladesh tour. I was excited for the home season to start," he told broadcasters.
Asked to bat first, India got off to a fabulous start as the duo of Rohit Sharma (83) and Shubman Gill (70) added 143 runs for the opening wicket.
“The openers allowed me to get into the game and I had to bat through the innings as I always do but still manage a high strike rate. I was happy I was able to maintain the tempo and we finished with 370 plus," Kohli said.
The former India skipper also acknowledged that luck plays a crucial part while talking about his dropped chances.
“I would take those (dropped chances) any day. Luck plays a big part, you need to thank god on such evenings. These evenings are important, pretty aware of that. Thankful that I made the most of that luck presented to me. I helped the team get 20 runs extra, rather than 350. It’s going to be the same thing," he remarked.
Speaking on his fitness, Kohli said that the diet keeps him in prime shape.
“I am quite aware of what I eat, diet is the most important thing at this age. That keeps me in prime shape. That helps me give my 100 percent for the team," he concluded.
