Virat Kohli’s Emotion-Fueled Century: “A Special Day I’ll Cherish Forever

On his 35th birthday, Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli celebrated in style by smashing a match-winning century against South Africa in the ongoing World Cup. Kohli’s unbeaten 101 off 121 balls not only secured a vital victory for India but also saw him reach a remarkable milestone in his ODI career.

Tying with Sachin Tendulkar

Kohli’s century in the high-stakes match equalled the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s world record of 49 One Day International (ODI) hundreds. After achieving this feat, Tendulkar took to social media to offer his congratulations, posting, “Well played Virat. It took me 365 days to go from 49 to 50 earlier this year. I hope you go from 49 to 50 and break my record in the next few days. Congratulations!!” The message from his idol left Kohli visibly emotional and overwhelmed.

Kohli, when asked about Tendulkar’s message and the significance of his achievement, admitted, “Tendulkar’s message is quite special. For me, it’s all too much to take in right now, to equal my hero’s record in one-day internationals is something that’s a huge honour for me. I know that people like comparisons, I am never going to be as good as him. There’s a reason why we all looked up to him. He’s perfection when it comes to batting. I am trying to do my best, trying to win games for my country. He’s always going to be my hero regardless of what happens. It’s a very emotional moment for me.”

A Remarkable Partnership

Kohli’s century was a result of his sheer determination and partnership with Shreyas Iyer, which yielded 134 runs off 158 balls. Their collaboration helped India post a formidable total of 326 for 5, ultimately winning the game by a convincing margin of 243 runs. 

Kohli emphasized his role in the team, stating, “My role has always been to bat deep, build partnerships, and contribute to the team’s success. I was just happy from that perspective because on pitches like these, if you get out, you can always look back and say 295, maybe we could have got 320-325. Once you are above 315, we knew it’s above par and we are in a comfortable situation.”

Virat Kohli’s remarkable century against South Africa marks his second in the 2023 World Cup, accompanied by four half-centuries in eight league games. He is currently the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament, trailing only South Africa’s Quinton de Kock. With 543 runs under his belt at an average of 108.60 and a strike rate of 88.29, Kohli’s form has been pivotal to India’s campaign.

A Prolific Year for Kohli

Virat Kohli’s century on his birthday continues a prolific year for him in the ODI format. In 2023, he has scored more than 1000 runs, including five centuries, at an impressive average of 72.18 and a strike rate of 99.82. This achievement also marks the eighth time Kohli has scored more than 1000 ODI runs in a year, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record of seven such instances. Kohli expressed his renewed enjoyment of the game, stating, “I am just happy that God’s blessed me with that enjoyment again and I can do the things that I have done for so many years all over again.”

Virat Kohli’s historic century and emotional response have not only etched his name further into cricket’s annals but have also inspired countless fans worldwide. As India progresses in the World Cup, cricket enthusiasts eagerly await his next record-breaking innings.

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