3 Indian centurions against Bangladesh in ODI World Cups

Representing the country and donning the nation’s threads in a global event is one of the biggest honours for a cricketer. Add to that the range of emotions when one raises the bat to a rapturous applause with more than a billion fans across the world cheering in unison, there’s possibly no better feeling.

Centuries in World Cups are always a special feat and as we gear up for India’s fourth match of the ICC men’s ODI World Cup against Bangladesh, here’s a glance at the batters who have crossed the three-figure mark against their continental neighbours.

1.    Virender Sehwag – 175 (140), 2011, Mirpur

The 2011 World Cup saw the intimidating incarnation of one of India’s most feared openers, Virender Sehwag, coming to life. Bangladesh found themselves at the receiving end of some serious heat from the famed batter who went full monty at Mirpur. Whacking 175 from just 140 balls that saw him scoring at a breezy rate of 125 while hammering 14 fours and five sixes, Sehwag was a free-firing run-machine. He fell against Shakib Al Hasan while trying to go big, showcasing what he is so well-known for - relentless aggression!

2.    Virat Kohli – 100 (83), 2011, Mirpur

It was the same match where two of India’s finest batters took down Bangladesh. One in the twilight of his career, while the other was just the seed of brilliance all set to take the yard by storm in the upcoming decade. Virat walked out to bat in a juncture where India was already cruising at 155/2. The King’s arrival in the center simply activated the jet packs and there was no stopping the Men in Blue. It was double trouble for the Bangladeshis as Sehwag and Kohli knitted together 203 runs for the third wicket. Virat stayed unbeaten for 100 from 83 balls, smashing eight fours and two sixes.

3.    Rohit Sharma – 137 (126), Melbourne 2015 and 104 (92) Edgbaston 2019

The Indian skipper has always been a force to reckon with and Bangladesh will know it the best. Rohit smashed 137 from 126 balls at the iconic Melbourne cricket ground against Bangladesh in the prized quarter-final, eventually catapulting the Men in Blue to the semis with that blistering knock of his. His second century came at Edgbaston where he was fortunate to survive an early scare after Tamim Iqbal grassed a dolly when Rohit was batting for 10, following which it was absolute rampage from the Indian skipper, surging through the ranks of the Bangladeshi bowlers with ease.