India’s leading run-getter of the tournament stood up to the in-form South Africa which was expected to pose a challenge at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Kohli was up for the challenge and scored an unbeaten 101 on a pitch that deteriorated and provided assistance to the spinners. The 35-year-old on his birthday equalled Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most centuries in ODI cricket history. Adjudged ‘Player of the Match’ for his second ton of World Cup 2023, Kohli paid tribute to his idol and said that he will never be able to match his perfection.
“It is all too much for me to take in now, to equal my hero’s record is something special for me. People like comparisons. I am never gonna be as good as him. He is perfection when it comes to batting. It’s a very emotional moment for me. I know where I come from, I know the days I have watched him on TV. Just to get that appreciation from him means a lot to me,” Kohli said in the post-match presentation.
Kohli said that he woke up with excitement to take on the Proteas challenge.
“It was a big game, probably playing the toughest team in the tournament. There was a motivation to do well. Because it happened on my birthday, it becomes special and the people made it more special for me. I did wake up with that excitement that today is not just another game,” he added.
In the middle overs, India’s scoring rate went down. Skipper Rohit Sharma was seen sending a message via Ishan Kishan while Kohli and Shreyas Iyer in the middle. Kohli said that the message was to bat around him.
“People from the outside look at the game in a bit of a different way. When then openers start well, you feel it is a belter and everyone has to play that way. But as the ball got older, the conditions slowed down drastically. The message was clear, keep batting around me. I was happy from that perspective. Once we got more than 315, we knew that we were above par,” the 25-year-old said.
“I’m enjoying myself, playing cricket all over again, that is more important to me than phases. I’m just happy that God has blessed me with that enjoyment. I’m just happy that I’m being able to do what I have done over all these years.”
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