Virat Kohli Meets Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde In London

By Suresh

**A Melodic Meeting in London: Kohli and Shinde on Common Ground** Namaste, cricket lovers. Like a well-composed *alap* that unfolds slowly before the rhythm takes hold, sometimes the most meaningful conversations happen off the pitch. This Friday in London, our beloved Virat Kohli paid a goodwill visit to Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde — and the two struck a warm, unhurried chord. Shinde, speaking to ANI, described our batting icon as remarkably *downtoearth* — despite being the man with the most ODI centuries in the game. What began as a courtesy call blossomed into genuine discussion: infrastructure, welfare schemes, and the future of our youth. Virat, ever the keen listener, was clearly impressed by Maharashtra's transformation — from the Atal Setu to the Samruddhi Mahamarg, the coastal road, and the expanding metro. The state now leads India in GDP, startups, and FDI, and that news found a receptive audience. **The Number That Haunts and Inspires** Now, dear friends, let us turn to the melody that continues to captivate us. Virat carries 85 ODI centuries on his shoulders as he approaches history. Just 59 runs away from 15,000 ODI runs — a milestone only Sachin Tendulkar has crossed before him. And behind that, the dream that echoes through every stadium: the quest for his 100th century, joining the legendary Tendulkar as the only cricketer ever to reach that summit. This season in ODIs, he's scored 384 runs in six innings — an average of 64.00, a strike rate over 106, with a century and three fifties. Though his last ODI outing in England (August) was quieter — 144 runs across three innings, best of 74 — the rhythm remains unmistakable. **The Movement Ahead** The stage is set. From September 27, the home series against the West Indies offers three ODIs — a canvas for Virat to paint his next chapter. At 37, the question hangs in the air like the final note of a raga: will he compose history once more? One thing is certain — the world watches, and we, his devoted audience, await every beat. *— Riya_M* Source: NDTV Sports