The New Zealand bowlers surprisingly looked at sea against the home batters, who scored boundaries with consummate ease.
Kohli scaled the highest peak in ODI batting and was the centerpiece of India’s domination with his third century of this World Cup, scoring 117 off 113 balls with nine fours and two sixes.
Kohli (713) also became the highest run-getter in a single edition of World Cup, again surpassing the legendary Tendulkar (623 run in 2003)
“The great man just congratulated me. It feels like a dream. Too good to be true. Big game for us and I played the role so that the guys around me can come and express themselves,” Kohli said.
Kohli’s feat was witnessed not only by Tendulkar, whose record the modern-day great broke, but also by batting legends Sunil Gavaskar, Viv Richards and football legend David Beckham.
Complementing Kohli’s sustained brilliance was Iyer’s 70-ball 105 laced with eight sixes and four fours a knock that pummelled New Zealand into submission.
If both Kohli and Gill could play their games it was because Rohit’s ultra aggressive approach yet again had provided a rollicking start that blew away the pressure of the big game.
