October 19 is a special day for Indian cricket fans as it brings back memories of Virat Kohli's memorable 48th ODI century against Bangladesh in the 2023 ODI World Cup. On this day three years ago, Kohli delivered a brilliant performance in Pune, guiding India to a seven-wicket victory and their fourth consecutive win in the tournament. What followed was a memorable finish that kept the Pune crowd on the edge of their seats. With India needing just 19 runs to win and Kohli also requiring 19 runs to reach his century, the focus shifted towards the milestone. Kohli and KL Rahul worked together during the final overs, with Rahul supporting his partner's effort to reach the landmark.
The moment finally arrived in the 42nd over. With India needing just two runs for victory and Kohli requiring three for his century, he faced Bangladesh spinner Nasum Ahmed and smashed the ball over the boundary for a six. The shot completed his century and gave India a seven-wicket win in one unforgettable moment. Kohli remained unbeaten on 103 off 97 balls, striking six fours and four sixes. It was his 48th ODI century and his 78th international hundred, bringing him one step closer to Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI centuries at the time.
Kohli also achieved several important records during the innings. He became the fastest batter to reach 26,000 international runs, accomplishing the feat in 567 innings and surpassing Tendulkar, who had taken 601 innings. He also moved past Mahela Jayawardene to become the fourth-highest run-scorer in international cricket at that time. Another major achievement came in ODI World Cup history, where Kohli moved past Brian Lara and Rohit Sharma on the list of leading run-scorers, climbing to fourth place.
For India, the victory was another important step in their 2023 World Cup campaign. The team had now won four matches in a row and continued to strengthen its position in the tournament. For Kohli, it was another reminder of why he is regarded as one of the greatest batters in ODI cricket. Three years later, the innings remains memorable not just because Kohli scored his 48th ODI century, but because of the way he achieved it. With the match and his hundred on the line, he finished in style with a six, giving Indian fans a moment to celebrate.