Virat Kohli has achieved a monumental feat, a record that the 35-year-old has been chasing for a while now, the legendary batter brought up a much-anticipated 49th ODI century to draw level with Sachin Tendulkar at the Eden Gardens on Sunday, November 5.
Marking his 35th birthday with a signature knock, Kohli achieved the illustrious feat that has been a major talking point throughout the ODI World Cup 2023. While the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team won seven matches in a row, all the eyes have been on Virat who brought up his 48th ODI hundred earlier against Bangladesh.
Since then, the talismanic batter came close to equalling Sachin Tendulkar’s colossal feat of 49 ODI centuries, but suffered two heartbreaks, getting dismissed on 95 against New Zealand, and then he fell short by 12 runs, getting out on 88 against Sri Lanka in Wankhede with the Little Master looking on from the stands.
ICC World Cup: Schedule | Results | Points Table | Most Runs | Most Wickets
As fate would have it, all the stars aligned as Kohli achieved his much anticipated 49th ODI hundred on his 35th birthday, at the venue of Eden Gardens where he had scored his first century in Indian colours.
The legendary Master Blasters needed 452 ODI innings to slam his tally of 49 centuries, but Kohli achieved the feat in just 276 innings.
Not only did Virat Kohli drew level with the ‘God of cricket’, he also matched Tendulkar in an exclusive club of batters to have smashed an ODI century on their birthday.
ALSO READ| Virat Kohli Registers Record-equalling 49 ODI Centuries: A Statistical Breakdown
Sachin Tendulkar slammed a century on his 25th birthday, against Australia at Sharjah, playing a special knock of 134 runs, and Virat marked his 35th birthday with his 49th ODI century.
Former Indian opener Vinod Kambli also features in the birthday centurions club, along with Sanath Jayasuriya and Ross Taylor among other legends.
Vinod Kambli 100* vs Eng Jaipur 1993 (21th birthday)
Sachin Tendulkar 134 vs Aus Sharjah 1998 (25)
Sanath Jayasuriya 130 vs Ind Karachi 2008 (39)
Ross Taylor 131* vs Pak Pallekele 2011 (27)
Tom Latham 140* vs Net Hamilton 2022 (30)
Mitchell Marsh 121 vs Pak Bengaluru 2023 (32)
Virat Kohli 100* vs SA Kolkata 2023 (35)
Furthermore, Taylor, Marsh and Virat’s centuries came in the World Cup.
ALSO READ| ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: All of Virat Kohli’s 49 ODI Centuries Revisited
Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar was quizzed during an event if any cricketer would be able to surpass his records, and the legend responded by saying that as long as an Indian surpassed his tally of records, he’s be proud of it, and the Master Blaster even billed Rohit and Virat as the two players who had the best chance of surpassing Tendulkar.
Comments
0 comment