Virat Kohli created history during the ICC World Cup 2023 first semi-final between India and New Zealand on November 15 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. He broke the legend Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most ODI centuries-49.
Rohit Sharma had won the toss and chose to bat first in Mumbai and India posted a mammoth 397/4 in 50 overs. Rohit gave the perfect start with 47 from 29 balls, while Shubman Gill made 80*. But the two best knocks in the match came from Shreyas Iyer, who made 105 in just 70 balls with 8 sixes and 4 fours.
And then there was Virat Kohli, who anchored the innings and made 117 runs with 9 fours and 2 sixes. With this knock, he also became the first batter in ODI cricket to make 50 centuries, going past Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI tons.
Kohli celebrated the occasion by bowing down to Tendulkar, who was applauding him from the stands, and also blew kisses to his wife Anushka Sharma. And he soaked in all the adulation from the crowd and opposition players as well.
Pakistani fast bowling legend Wasim Akram was all praises for Virat Kohli and said that he had wondered who would break Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI centuries, but Virat Kohli had amazed him.
"Pachasvi! When Sachin finished with 49 tons, I thought 'Kaun karega yaar' pachaas sau (will anyone ever score 50 hundreds?). You can still think about it as all-inclusive (cumulative centuries) across formats. But this guy (Kohli) came, saw, and conquered,” Akram said on ASports TV.
Akram said Tendulkar has inspired a generation of cricketers and Kohli is one of them.
"It's so important to have role models in any walk of life for a young kid to follow. And he (Tendulkar) has been a prime example for any young, budding cricketer, not just in India, I am talking about worldwide. That's the great Sachin,” he added.
Fellow expert on the show Misbah Ul Haq lauded the way Virat Kohli is playing according to the role given to him in all the matches.
"He (Kohli) is delivering almost whenever he comes to bat. How to cash in on a set platform, how to take it to the end the way he is batting, strike rotation, stealing boundaries, well calculated and organized innings. There is a sense of surety and security when he is in the middle. The non-striker doesn't have to worry, (scoring) 6-7 runs an over is not an issue, while other teams are thinking of stopping 8-10 runs an over," Misbah said.
Here is the video:
