Virat Kohli matches Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI hundreds with century against South Africa at Cricket World Cup
Virat Kohli has achieved the same number of one-day international centuries as fellow Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar, following his 49th ton in the game.
On Sunday, which coincidentally happened to be Kohli's 35th birthday, he scored a century in 119 balls against South Africa during the Cricket World Cup match in Kolkata.
The player achieved his very first ODI century at the exact same place 14 years ago, when he faced Sri Lanka in December 2009.
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Kohli, known for his high average of 58.48 in ODI cricket, reached his 49th hundred in just 277 innings. This is a stark contrast to Tendulkar, who took 451 knocks to reach the same milestone.
Kohli's buddy, Rohit Sharma, earned the third spot in the list of most centuries with 31 to his name. He was followed by former Australian batsman Ricky Ponting, who scored 30 centuries, and ex-Sri Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya, who made 28.
Joe Root currently holds the top position among Englishmen, ranking at number 16.
Kohli's Dream Come True
After his remarkable achievement of scoring 101 runs on 121 balls, leading India to an unbeatable score of 326-5 against South Africa in front of a crowd-filled Eden Gardens stadium, Kohli expressed his gratitude stating that every time he has the chance to play for India, it means a great deal to him.
It's like a dream come true to perform in front of such a massive audience on my birthday. It's something you dream of as a kid and hope it becomes a reality someday.
I feel thankful for experiencing these special moments and receiving immense affection from my supporters.
In free English, the blog section could be rewritten as follows: Throughout my career, I've consistently aimed to bat as long as possible and help the team achieve victory. My main responsibility has been to anchor the batting lineup, allowing other players to bat confidently around me. I plan to keep contributing to the team's success in whatever way I can.
Kohli's Laser-Focused Style Impressed De Villiers
AB de Villiers, who used to be a batsman for South Africa and was part of Kohli's old team, Royal Challengers Bangalore, stated:
He's a remarkable athlete. I doubt anyone believed they could even come near Sachin's record, but he's managed to match it now. He still has many matches to exceed it.
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"He did an impressive performance against South Africa, managing to keep everything together. I had a chance to see him earlier that day and noticed how he was completely concentrated on the game, so his success comes as no surprise."
Kohl To Assist India's 2011 Triumph
Kohli made his second century of the World Cup in a match against South Africa. He had previously scored 103 not out against Bangladesh in Pune.
The Indian team has managed to clinch victory in every one of their seven matches in the World Cup tournament. They were able to defeat strong opponents such as Australia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand, England, and Sri Lanka.
In 2011, India achieved a remarkable feat by winning the World Cup on their home turf. It was a moment of glory for the Indian cricket team as they emerged victorious with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the final. Now, India is seeking to relive that success and replicate their triumph once again.
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After their triumph, Kohli took Tendulkar on a tour around the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Kohli mentioned that The Little Master was able to uphold the responsibility of the country for over two decades. Now, it's time for them to show their appreciation by carrying him on their shoulders.
Kohli has achieved the same number of ODI centuries as Tendulkar and it appears probable that he will surpass him soon, maybe even during India's last World Cup group match against Netherlands in Bangalore on the coming Sunday.
The person who is 35 years old has a fantastic history of performances when India has had to chase a score in One Day International (ODI) matches. His average score is a remarkable 65.24 runs when India has batted second. Additionally, he has scored 27 out of his 49 centuries while chasing a target.
You can catch all matches of the Cricket World Cup live on Sky Sports until the final on Sunday, November 19. If you don't have a contract, you can also stream the matches through NOW.
