Virat Kohli Bowled by Ex-RCB Teammate at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Wait for 50th ODI Century Continues | WATCH

Virat Kohli missed a glorious chance to smash his 50th ODI century as he was dismissed by his former Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate Roelof van der Merwe at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday. The Indian team squared off against Netherlands for their final World Cup 2023 group-stage game at the home of RCB in Bengaluru.

Having smashed his 49th ODI century in the previous game against South Africa, Kohli equalled Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most centuries in the format. He was on the cusp of becoming the first-ever batsman in the history of the sport to smash a half-century to hundreds in ODIs, but the 35-year-old was dismissed on 51.

Van der Merwe managed to outwit his former RCB teammate, shortly after Kohli had completed his fifty, and he also surpassed Quinton de Kock to become the leading run scorer in the ODI World Cup 2023.

Follow all the action from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 including the World Cup schedule, World Cup 2023 results, and ICC Cricket World Cup points table. Players are vying to top the World Cup 2023 Most Runs and World Cup 2023 Most Wickets charts. 

Virat played 56 balls, scoring five boundaries and a maximum, and he looked well-set to go on to smash his 50th ODI century at the RCB’s den however, there was an anti-climax of sorts when Kohli was dismissed.

The incident took place in the 29th over of India’s inning. On the fourth ball of the over, Van der Merwe pitched a length delivery that was bowled outside the off stump but it came on, and Virat Kohli tried to cut it away for a four, however, the ball slid under the former India captain’s bat, and the entire Chinnaswamy Stadium was shocked.

Watch: Virat Kohli dismissed on 51, anti-climax at Chinnaswamy Stadium

The wait for the number 50 ODI hundred continues, Virat will have another bite at the cherry as he will next be in action in the World Cup 2023 semifinal on November 15, when the Indian team will renew their rivalry with New Zealand. It will be a repeat of the 2019 World Cup semifinal, however, India will be hoping that there will be a different outcome this time around.

Earlier, Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma also smashed fifties as their explosive batting, combined with Virat Kohli’s half-century helped the Indian team over the 200-run mark before 30 overs had been bowled by the Dutch.