Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli made history on Wednesday by scoring his 50th century in One-Day International (ODI) cricket during the Cricket World Cup 2023 semifinal match against New Zealand at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. Kohli surpassed the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI centuries, becoming the highest century scorer in the format. The crowd erupted in celebrations as Kohli reached this milestone, and his wife, Anushka Sharma, couldn’t contain her excitement and was seen blowing flying kisses towards him. The presence of Tendulkar and football icon David Beckham added to the jubilant atmosphere.
Kohli, aged 35, achieved this feat by hitting a century in his third match of the tournament. He reached his century in 106 balls, with eight fours and a six, surpassing Tendulkar’s record on his home ground. Kohli expressed his disbelief at achieving this dream-like feat, stating, “It feels like a dream. Too good to be true.” He also thanked his childhood hero, Tendulkar, for his support and inspiration.
This was Kohli’s 279th ODI innings, and he has also scored 71 fifties in addition to his 50 centuries. Although he was dropped on 107, Kohli was eventually dismissed for 117. However, his focus remains on contributing to the team’s success, as he said, “For me, the most important thing is to make my team win. I’ve been given a role this tournament, and I’m trying to dig deep. That’s the key to consistency – playing according to the situation and playing for the team.”
Tendulkar, whose record Kohli equaled 10 days ago in the group stage match against South Africa, praised Kohli’s passion and skill. He expressed his happiness that an Indian cricketer broke his record, especially on such a significant stage and at his home ground.
Kohli expressed his joy in achieving this record in front of his wife, Anushka Sharma, and Tendulkar. He mentioned that having his hero and life partner present, along with the support of the fans at the Wankhede Stadium, made the moment even more special.
India, aiming for their third World Cup title and their second on home soil, also received contributions from Shreyas Iyer, who scored 105, and Shubman Gill, who made 80 runs. The team posted a formidable total of 397-4.
This historic achievement by Virat Kohli has captivated cricket fans worldwide and further solidified his position as one of the greatest batsmen in ODI cricket.
