Virat Kohli brought the crowd at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai to their feet shouting at the top of their lungs as he broke the world record for most ODI centuries. In the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 semifinal against New Zealand, Kohli broke his idol Sachin Tendulkar’s record and bowed down to him. He also sent flying kisses to his wife Anushka Sharma who was in the stands.
During the innings break, Kohli told the broadcasters what went through his mind after reaching the three figures as he said, “As I said stuff of dreams. Anushka was sitting right there, Sachin paaji was here too. Difficult to explain this. If I could paint a perfect picture I would want this to be the picture. My life partner, the person I love the most is sitting there, my hero is sitting there and I was able to get the 50th (ODI hundred) in front of all of them and all these stands in Wankhede as well, such a history venue so it was amazing.”
Kohli was happy with how he performed for the team in the crucial clash. It is also his first fifty-plus score in an ICC ODI knockout event.
“I said in Kolkata, the great man (Sachin Tendulkar) just congratulated me. All this feels like a dream, too good to be true. Feels surreal for me. Again a big game today, I had to play the role I have played throughout the tournament so that the guys around me can go and express themselves. Just glad everything came together so nicely and we put up a great total on the board as well,” the 35-year-old said.
Battling cramps in the hot and humid Mumbai weather, Kohli said that he is just following the role he has been given by the team to anchor the innings and take risks in death overs.
“Most important thing is to make my team win and whatever it takes to do that I am ready to do that. Whether running singles and doubles, hitting boundaries... whatever the team wants me to do. I have been given a role this tournament and I have been trying to play that to the best of my abilities - try to dig deep and bat long so the guys around me can play around me and have that confidence in the later overs where I can dominate with the bat as well,” the former Indian skipper said.
Kohli lauded his teammates for posting a big total of 397/4 on the board against the Kane Williamson-led side.
“In a big game you are happy with anything over 330-340. To get close to 400 is amazing. Lot of credit has to go to Shreyas the way he came and batted freely.. Shubman and Rohit at the top, KL finishing with the flurry... I think everyone did their roles to perfection and did the job beautifully for the team. A perfect batting performance but just one half of the game is done. Still got to go out there and be professional with the ball and do the things we have done in the tournament so far,” he concluded.
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