Harbhajan Singh said that Virat Kohli’s record 49th ODI hundred was destined to happen on his birthday, as the dashing batter equaled Sachin Tendulkar’s massive record in an ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 against South Africa in Kolkata.
Kohli, on November 5, his 35th birthday, smashed his 49th ODI hundred in the 37th match of the ongoing Cricket World Cup 2023 to equal Sachin Tendulkar’s recofor of most centuries in ODI cricket.
Reacting to the same, Harbhajan said that Kohli gave India the biggest gift on his birthday by hitting his record 49th ODI century against South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Harbhajan Singh told India Today: “It was supposed to happen on his birthday. This is the biggest gift he has given to the whole nation on his birthday. He's got many more to come. He's a champion player and is probably the fittest player in the team. He looks like a 25-year-old guy. He's going to break many more records. He deserves to break a lot more records going forward.”
Kohli scored 101* runs off 121 balls, hitting 10 boundaries in Kolkata, and the 2011 World Cup winner said that the right-hander had to bat till the end as the pitch got slower against South Africa.
Harbhajan said, “These records just don't come by. In his era, he is by far the best. Knowing Kohli and his commitmetords the team, he puts the team first over his own achievements. This wicket got slower and it wasn't easy for new batters to come in and start playing shots.”
He signed off by saying, “Suryakumar also struggled a bit and so did KL Rahul. It wasn't easy to bat which is why Kohli had to be there till the end to get India to a good score.”
(With India Today Inputs)
