Virat Kohli started the New Year on a positive note slamming his 45th ODI century at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati to begin India’s campaign in the three-match series with a 67-run victory.

Sri Lanka, despite a shaky start, did put up a challenge, courtesy captain Dasun Shanaka’s 108 not out, but the Indian bowlers battled dew to restrict them to 306 for eight.

In a World Cup year, this resounding start will put India on a solid platform as they launched their countdown to the showpiece event on Tuesday.

It was also Kohli’s 73rd International century across formats. He has 27 tons in Tests and one in T20Is. Kohli raced to his century in 80 balls before departing on 113 off 87 balls (12x4, 1x6) in the 49th over.

The former captain was happy that his intent produced results. “I have come fresh after the Bangladesh tour where things didn’t quite go according to plan for me in the second half. I was quite looking forward to the home season,” Kohli said later.

“I had to bat through the innings as I always do, but still managed a high strike-rate (129.88). I am glad I could play according to the tempo of the game. Our intent has come off, and we have ended up with 370-plus instead of 340.”

At a venue where he had hit a century (140 vs West Indies) in the only ODI held here four years ago, the former India skipper rode his luck to survive twice — on 52 and 81.

“Luck is important, it plays a part. I am grateful for it, and bow my head and accept it,” he said.

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka during his valiant unbeaten 108 off 88 balls on Tuesday. PTI photo

Openers Rohit Sharma (83) and Shubman Gill laid the platform with a 143-run stand before Kohli took charge in the middle overs. They made sure that the criticism for benching Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav didn’t gain much credence.

In the Powerplay, both the openers made the most of the field restrictions. Rohit got going with a gentle drive straight down the ground and Gill got a cut through point in the second over to signal his intentions.

Rohit then took on Kasun Rajitha in the third over with Gill hammering Dilshan Madushanka for a hat-trick of boundaries in the following over as India raced to 35 in four overs. The boundary spree continued as India put up 75 on the board at the end of the 10over mark.

India captain Rohit Sharma (right) and Shubman Gill during their 143-run partnership in the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Guwahati on Tuesday. PTI photo

They completed the century stand in 15 overs. Gill then cut loose against Dunith Wellalage and fetched three successive boundaries and Rohit finished that over with a six straight down the ground. Shanaka then ended the stand as he trapped Gill leg-before-wicket for 70.

Kohli raced to 18 off just 12 at the outset and the dismissal of Rohit at the other end had no impact on him. India ensured their run rate didn’t dip as Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul came up with valuable contributions.

India already had 294 on the board at the 40th overmark and 400 looked a possibility with Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel to follow. However, Rajitha cut short Rahul’s stay and Hardik failed to fire. The dismissals had an impact and India failed to get any boundaries in the final two overs.

The Indian bowlers didn’t disappoint with Mohammad Siraj (2/30) and Umran Malik (3/58) being the star performers. But it was the Lankan tail that bothered India. While India added 79 runs in the last 10 overs with just 3 wickets down, the Shanaka-Kasun Rajitha pair accumulated 100 runs in an unbroken stand in 12.1 overs.

Lucky escape

Shanaka survived on 98 when Mohammed Shami showed great presence of mind and took the bails off at the non-striker’s end after the batter was found to be backing up a bit too much in the final over.

Rohit, however, preferred to withdraw the appeal and Shanaka survived to complete the century.

A 100 smiles

■ Virat Kohli hit his 45th ODI hundred on Tuesday. He is now four centuries away from all-time topper Sachin Tendulkar. Here’s the list of top-five batsmen with most ODI hundreds: 49 — Sachin Tendulkar (Ind), 452 inns 45 — Virat Kohli (Ind), 257 inns* 30 — Ricky Ponting (Aus), 365 inns 29 — Rohit Sharma (Ind), 229 inns* 28 — Sanath Jayasuriya (SL), 433 inns

■ Kohli is also second, once again to Tendulkar, on the list of most international hundreds. The top five are: 100 — Sachin Tendulkar (Ind), 782 inns 73 — Virat Kohli (Ind), 541 inns* 71 — Ricky Ponting (Aus), 668 inns 63 — Kumar Sangakkara (SL), 666 inns 62 — Jacques Kallis (SA), 617 inns

■ Kohli now is a joint-topper for most ODI hundreds against a particular opponent: 9 hundreds vs Aus — Sachin Tendulkar (Ind), 71 matches 9 vs SL — Virat Kohli (Ind), 48 matches 9 vs WI — Virat Kohli (Ind), 42 matches

■ Kohli equalled Tendulkar’s record for most ODI tons at home. The top three: 20 — Sachin Tendulkar (Ind) 20 — Virat Kohli (Ind) 14 — Hashim Amla (SA)

■ Kohli became the fastest to reach 12,500 runs in ODIs, doing so in 257 innings. Tendulkar held the previous record, having reached the milestone in 310 innings.

OUR BUREAU & MOHANDAS MENON