Virat Kohli Etched His Name alongside Master Blaster in The History of Cricket
Virat Kohli equaled Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI centuries with a spectacular century against South Africa in the World Cup match. Kohli's century was instrumental in India's victory, and his performance was hailed by fans and experts alike.
The cricket world witnessed history in the making as Virat Kohli, the maestro of modern-day cricket, equaled Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most hundreds in one-day internationals during India's eighth match of the 2023 World Cup against South Africa at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on a memorable Sunday.
Virat Kohli, who had been tantalizing fans with weeks of anticipation, chose his 35th birthday to deliver a remarkable performance. Throughout the World Cup, Kohli had showcased stunning form. On this special day, he etched his name in the annals of cricket history by becoming the third Indian, following the iconic Sachin Tendulkar and the versatile Rohit Sharma, to exceed the 500-run milestone in a single World Cup edition.
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Kohli's impressive journey in this tournament began with a classy 85 against Australia in India's opening match, setting the tone for his remarkable run. His 48th ODI century followed against Bangladesh. The cricketing world held its breath as Kohli came close on two other occasions, only to be dismissed for 95 against New Zealand and then for 88 against Sri Lanka, in the match at the Wankhede Stadium on November 2.
Notably, Virat Kohli reached his 49th ODI century in just his 289th ODI match. In contrast, Sachin Tendulkar reached his 49th ODI century in his second-to-last ODI, which marked the 462nd appearance in his illustrious career. This particular century was also Tendulkar's 100th international century, a record that seems unlikely to be surpassed unless Kohli continues his remarkable form for several more years.
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Virat Kohli made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in August 2008 and went on to score his maiden one-day international century against the same opponents in December 2009. His incredible career, which commenced 15 years ago, boasts an impressive tally of hundreds against various nations: 10 against Sri Lanka, 9 against West Indies, 8 against Australia, 5 each against Bangladesh, New Zealand, and South Africa, 3 against Pakistan and England, and 1 against Zimbabwe.
Among Kohli's remarkable achievements is his highest individual score of 183, achieved against Pakistan in Mirpur. Interestingly, that particular match happened to be Sachin Tendulkar's final one-day international. Their 133-run partnership played a pivotal role in India's successful pursuit of a target of 330.
Virat Kohli's incredible form was crucial for India's World Cup campaign, and the star batsman certainly lived up to expectations. In the tournament opener against Australia, when India faced a challenging situation, Kohli's composed innings of 85, combined with KL Rahul's unbeaten 97, steered the team to a convincing victory.
While Virat Kohli had the opportunity to equal Sachin Tendulkar's record in Dharamsala, he was unfortunately dismissed for 95 against New Zealand, with India on the brink of another victory in the ongoing World Cup. Despite this, he remained an essential pillar of the team's success in the competition.