With his third century in four innings, Virat Kohli helped India sweep Sri Lanka with a record 317-run victory in the third ODI to claim the three- match series 3-0.
In the third and final game of the series in Thiruvananthapuram, Team India defeated Sri Lanka by a score of 317 runs, breaking the previous record for the biggest victory (by runs) in ODIs. India decided to bat and amassed a massive total of 390/5 in fifty overs on the back of Virat Kohli and Shmuman Gill’s brillant cenutries. As a result of the aggressive bowling attack of Mohammad Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav, Sri Lanka failed miserably to chase down the target, getting all out at 73 in 22 overs.
India vs Sri lanka 3rd ODI – Match Summary
In the third and final ODI of the series, Virat Kohli delivered a phenomenal performance, scoring an unbeaten 166 off just 110 deliveries while hitting 13 fours and 8 sixes. In a fantastic 131-run partnership with Kohli, the young Indian opener Shubman Gill also scored a brilliant 116 off just 97 deliveries.
After Gill was dismissed, Kohli took the initiative and launched an all-out assault on the Sri Lankan bowlers, scoring 150 runs off just 106 deliveries. In the last 10 overs, he combined with fellow Indian middle order batsmen to hit 86 runs in just 34 balls. Sri Lanka put on a disgraceful batting display, scoring just 73 runs in response to India’s enormous total. The visitors, who needed to score 391 runs to win, fell a staggering 317 runs short of India’s total and suffered the biggest defeat in ODI history.
Dasun Shanaka attempted to revive the team with opener Nuanindo Fernando after losing three wickets for 31 runs. However, they also fell short as Nuanindo departed soon on the score of 19 runs run, and the captain only had 11 runs when he left the field. Only Kasun Rajitha, who came down to bat at number nine, was able to achieve double figures in addition to these two batsmen.
In the T20I series, Sri Lanka’s battling lineup showed a lot of potential, butregrettably, the most of their best hitters struggled to score frequently in ODIs. The visitors’ batting was, to put it mildly, unimpressive throughout the series, with the exception of captain Dasun Shanaka, who scored 100 in the second ODI.
Top 5 victories by runs in ODIs:
- 317 runs– India vs Sri Lanka, 2023
- 290 runs– New Zealand vs Ireland, 2008
- 275 runs– Australia vs Afghanistan, 2015
- 272 runs– South Africa vs Zimbabwe, 2010
- 257 runs– India vs Bermuda, 2007
India aim to dethrone New Zealand from World No.1 spot
Just two more games separate the men in blue from holding the top spot in the ICC Rankings for all three game formats. India currently holds the No. 1 spot in T20Is and has the No. 4 spot in ODIs with 109 rating points. India will play New Zealand in a three-match ODI from January 18th, which will be team India’s fight to overtake Sri Lanka as the top side in the ICC ODI Rankings.
New Zealand is currently ranked No. 1 in the ICC Rankings, but if India sweeps them 3-0 at home in the ODI series, they would unseat the Kiwis as the top team in the world. Additionally, if India wins the 4-match Test series 1-0 or 3-1, they will move up to the top spot in the ICC World Test Rankings as well.