Amidst the electrifying atmosphere of the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli etched his name in history with his 50th ODI century, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most tons in the format. The momentous achievement was met with thunderous applause and admiration from the cricketing fraternity.
Virat Kohli, who has been in sensational form throughout the World Cup, crafted a masterful 113-ball 117, guiding India to a formidable 397 for four against New Zealand in the crucial semi-final clash. His innings was a testament to his exceptional talent, unwavering determination, and ability to perform under immense pressure. Overwhelmed by the historic milestone, Virat Kohli described it as ‘stuff of dreams’ and ‘amazing’.
“I said in Kolkata, the great man (Sachin Tendulkar) just congratulated me. All this feels like a dream, too good to be true. Feels surreal for me. Again a big game today, I had to play the role I have played throughout the tournament so that the guys around me can go and express themselves. Just glad everything came together so nicely and we put up a great total on the board as well,” Kohli shared during the innings break.
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The emotional significance of the moment was amplified by the presence of his wife Anushka Sharma and his cricketing idol Sachin Tendulkar at the stadium.
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“Anushka was sitting right there, Sachin paaji was here too. Difficult to explain this. If I could paint a perfect picture I would want this to be the picture. My life partner, the person I love the most is sitting there, my hero is sitting there and I was able to get the 50th (ODI hundred) in front of all of them and all these stands in Wankhede as well, such a historic venue so it was amazing,” Virat Kohli added.
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Sachin Tendulkar, who has always been a source of inspiration for Kohli, expressed his pride in the young batsman’s remarkable achievement.
“A big, big congratulations to Virat, he made it look easy, he’s gone to 50 hundreds in ODI format. Incredible, super, we are all super proud of him. I still remember the first day when he got into the Indian dressing room,” Sachin Tendulkar said.
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He further added, “The other players played a prank on him and made him touch my feet saying that this is tradition, you have to touch his feet to take his blessings, that’s when you are going to have a good career. I was laughing away. Today to see the same player grow so beautifully and achieve so many laurels for our country, I am so proud.”
Kohli’s 50th ODI century is not just a personal milestone; it is a testament to the unwavering dedication, exceptional talent, and unparalleled ability to perform under pressure that have characterized his illustrious career. His name will forever be etched in the annals of cricketing history, an inspiration to generations of aspiring cricketers to come.
