Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar, two legendary names that have inspired generations of Indian cricket fans, continue to captivate with their immense talent. While comparisons between the two have been the subject of much debate, their greatness extends far beyond mere statistics. Their impact on Indian sports is immeasurable. However, there are certain milestones that cannot be ignored, and one such milestone was achieved by Virat Kohli at the iconic Eden Gardens during a Cricket World Cup 2023 match against South Africa on Sunday.
In a venue where Sachin Tendulkar had delivered many unforgettable performances, Virat Kohli equaled a world record set by the former in emphatic fashion. Sachin Tendulkar held the record for the most ODI centuries with 49, but now Virat Kohli has reached the same mark in just 277 innings. It is highly likely that he will surpass this record and set a new one in the ongoing Cricket World Cup. It is worth noting that it was at the Eden Gardens where Virat Kohli had scored his first ODI century against Sri Lanka in 2009.
For a long time, Virat Kohli has been hailed as the rightful successor to Sachin Tendulkar in Indian batting. Over the past decade and a half, he has lived up to these expectations by leading India to victories with his exceptional batting skills. However, Sunday’s achievement holds special significance for several reasons. Firstly, the feat of scoring 49 ODI centuries was unimaginable until Sachin Tendulkar accomplished it, and now two Indians have achieved this milestone. Secondly, this statistical milestone reaffirms that Virat Kohli is indeed a worthy successor to Sachin Tendulkar.
The century at Eden Gardens was Virat Kohli’s 79th international hundred (including 29 in Tests and 1 in T20Is). He reached this milestone during the 49th over of the match against South Africa with a single off Kagiso Rabada.
Reflecting on his remarkable journey, Virat Kohli said, “If we talk about cricket, I had never thought of achieving it all, as in where my career is and how God has blessed me with such a career span and performances. I had always dreamt I’d do this, but I had never thought things would pan out this way exactly.” He continued, “Nobody can plan these things, the way your journey is going, or the way things unfold in front of you. I hadn’t thought that I’d score so many hundreds and so many runs in these 12 years.”
Clearly, Virat Kohli’s journey will continue to be marked by numerous milestones.
