Star India batter Virat Kohli chose to dedicate his record 50th hundred in ODIs to Sachin Tendulkar after he broke the Master Blaster's record during the all-important World Cup 2023 semi-final against New Zealand on at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday, November 15.
He bowed down to Sachin Tendulkar after reaching the landmark, and the former opener also stood up and applauded Kohli after the latter broke his record. A video of the special moment was shared by the ICC on social media.
He also got flying kisses from movie star and wife Anushka Sharma, who has been a pillar during his journey to the top.
Sachin also took to Twitter to share his appreciation for Kohli's massive achievement. "The first time I met you in the Indian dressing room, you were pranked by other teammates into touching my feet. I couldn’t stop laughing that day. But soon, you touched my heart with your passion and skill. I am so happy that that young boy has grown into a ‘Virat’ player."
"I couldn’t be happier that an Indian broke my record. And to do it on the biggest stage - in the World Cup Semi-final - and at my home ground is the icing on the cake," he wrote on Twitter.
Kohli reached his century off 106 balls to become the first batter to hit a half-century of tons in ODI cricket. He struggled with cramps in the hot and humid Mumbai weather but this did not dampen his pace while running between the wickets. Kohli reached his century in the 42nd over, taking a double off Lockie Ferguson.
The former India skipper celebrated his century with a fist pump, taking off his helmet and bowing down to his idol followed by flying kisses to his wife in the stands.
Kohli also broke a few other records on the way to his record-breaking ton. The 35-year-old now holds the record for most runs in a single World Cup edition. Tendulkar had scored 673 runs in the 2003 edition of World Cup while Kohli now has 711 runs in this edition of the tournament
He also broke Tendulkar and Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan’s record for most fifty-plus scores in a single World Cup edition. Tendulkar had achieved it in 2003 whereas Shakib achieved the feat in the previous edition.
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