Kohli’s God-given gift turns historic in God’s Own Country

By K.R. Nayar 

Kohli is a blessed cricketer. Hence, it is no coincidence that he produced another historic feat in Kerala, known as God’s Own Country. In the process, the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram and its cricket-loving fans were blessed too. They were all treated to a royal exhibition by King Kohli, who marched past the 15,000-run mark and became the fastest to reach the landmark, doing so in his 303rd ODI innings—74 innings quicker than Sachin Tendulkar, who reached the mark in his 377th.

Kohli was not content with merely making history. He decided to adorn it with a spectacular unbeaten century. For the first time in his international career, he reached both his half-century and century with sixes. And, if that was not enough, he hit nine sixes—the most he has ever hit in an ODI innings.

Thiruvananthapuram also witnessed something truly special: two of India’s finest ODI batsmen of the present generation, skipper Shubman Gill and Kohli, produced match-winning centuries in a calculated chase. Gill’s ton had the sparkle of youth while Kohli’s ton was simply royal. India defeated the West Indies by eight wickets with 50 balls to spare.

It was not merely a batting display. Kuldeep Yadav produced a fine display of spin on a batting track, claiming a superb four-wicket haul for 40 runs. Adding strength to the divine coincidence is Kohli’s relationship with Thiruvananthapuram. If not for God’s will, why does Kohli keep producing remarkable feats in this city? His previous ODI century at this venue was a stupendous 166 against Sri Lanka in January 2023. That was his 10th ODI century against Sri Lanka. On Sunday, he produced another hundred here—his 10th ODI century against the West Indies. Two 10th ODI centuries against two different nations, both at the same venue, seems more than a coincidence.

Thiruvananthapuram may be just another venue for Kohli, but for the city, Kohli’s name is now etched into its history. When Kohli walked out to bat, he needed only 59 more runs to reach the 15,000-run mark. He reached the milestone and then just kept going. Perhaps those additional 80 unbeaten runs were his gift to the thousands who had come to cheer for him. His unbeaten 139 has strengthened his reputation as one of cricket’s great chase masters. He took India to the target with two consecutive sixes, as if waving goodbye to the Thiruvananthapuram fans, who may not see him play another ODI knock here.

Thirty-seven-year-old Kohli seems determined to prove that age dare not slow him down. His journey past the 15,000-run mark itself is a monument to his longevity and rhythm. He had not played an international match since his 74 at Lord’s on July 19, 2026. But that long break had no impact on him. This has surely made many wonder why he has opted to play only in the ODI format and retire from Tests and T20Is. Once he holds the bat, it can never be silent.

For Kohli, no landmark is a faraway mountain. It is likely that Kohli may walk off only after erasing Tendulkar’s 18, 426 ODI runs. What he demonstrated on Sunday in Thiruvananthapuram is his voracious appetite for runs. Age has added more candles to his birthday cake, but the fire to light those candles seems to come out of his bat.

This was Kohli’s 55th ODI century, extending his lead over Tendulkar’s 49. Kohli always looks towards the sky and expresses his gratitude whenever he completes a century. In God’s Own Country, the divine scorekeeper above seems to have been watching him very closely. The scoreboard on the ground showed 139 not out. The history books recorded 15,080 ODI runs. The fans recorded a memory they will carry for years. They saw Kohli receive God’s blessings and accepting it with his bat.