Indian cricket sensation Virat Kohli expressed his deep admiration for his idol, the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, after achieving a significant milestone in his career. Kohli reached a remarkable milestone in his career by scoring his 49th century in One Day Internationals (ODIs) during the ICC ODI World Cup match against South Africa, held at the iconic Eden Gardens on a memorable Sunday.
On his birthday, Kohli gifted himself and his fans a splendid century, notching up an unbeaten 101 runs off 121 deliveries. This remarkable feat allowed him to equal the record set by his cricketing hero, Sachin Tendulkar. It was a moment of immense pride and emotion for Kohli, as he stood shoulder to shoulder with the icon he had always looked up to.
When asked about Tendulkar's heartfelt message on Twitter praising his achievement, Kohli couldn't hide his emotions. He expressed, "It's quite special. It's all too much to take for me right now. To equal my hero's record, it's quite special for me. I grew up watching him bat, and he's perfection when it comes to batting. I will never be as good as him. He is always going to be my hero whatever happens."
Kohli further reflected on his incredible journey, saying, "It has been an emotional journey for me. I know from where I have come, and to stand here and receive that appreciation from him, it means a lot to me."
What makes Kohli's feat even more impressive is the speed at which he achieved it. He reached his 49th century in just 277 innings, a significant contrast to Tendulkar's 451 innings. Kohli's achievement signifies his relentless dedication and extraordinary talent.
Recalling the match, Kohli admitted that he felt a sense of something extraordinary in the air that day. He shared, "I had this sense of 'it's going to be something more' today rather than 'it's just one more game in the World Cup.' I did wake up with that excitement, yes."
The match against South Africa was particularly crucial, and Kohli acknowledged the challenges they posed. He said, "It was a big game. We were probably playing the toughest team in the tournament that we had played so far, to be honest. They played some amazing cricket. There was this motivation of wanting to do well for the team. Because it happened on my birthday, people made it a bit more special for me."
In the 2023 World Cup, Kohli has been in sensational form, having scored two centuries and four half-centuries in just eight league games. He currently ranks as the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament, behind South Africa's Quinton de Kock. Kohli has amassed an impressive 543 runs at an average of 108.60 and a strike rate of 88.29. This is the first time he has scored more than 500 runs in an ODI World Cup.
Kohli's century played a pivotal role in helping India post a formidable total of 326 runs in their 50 overs. In response, South Africa's batting lineup crumbled, managing only 83 runs, resulting in a resounding 243-run victory for India. This incredible performance further solidified Kohli's status as one of the greatest cricketers of his generation.
(With agency inputs)
