Virat Kohli's king-sized 49th ODI century couldn't have been more bigger as it not only came on his 35th birthday but also for India's winning cause. Kohli clobbered a record-equalling century to help India rock the dangerous looking South Africa by 243 runs in their ODI World Cup match at the Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata on Sunday, November 5. India recorded their 8th straight victory in the ongoing World Cup.
Kohli, who equalled Sachin Tendulkar's World Record of 49th ODI hundreds, struck an unbeaten 101 off 121 balls catapult India to a big total of 326/5. In reply, India rode on Ravindra Jadeja's stunning fifer to reduce South Africa to a lowly score of 83 to hand the Proteas their heaviest defeat in the World Cup history.
Meanwhile, India skipper Rohit Sharma heaped praise on birthday boy Kohli and credited him for India's massive win over South Africa.
“If we look at how we played in the last three games, we played better in terms of adapting to the situation. We were put under pressure against England. In the last game as well, we lost a wicket in the first over but got to a good score and seamers came to the party. Today was not an easy pitch, you needed someone like Kohli, who batted to the situation,” Rohit said in the post match presentation following India's convincing triumph.
Rohit didn't forget to mention Shreyas Iyer, who played an instrumental knock of 77 off 87 when the chips were down. Shreyas stitched a robust partnership of 134 runs with Kohli to steady India's boat and steer them to a mammoth total.
“Not to forget Shreyas. It's important to let guys have freedom in the middle and what the team expects from them. You know it can't always be done but when it does it looks good and that's what happened with Shami. Same with Iyer, wasn't getting the runs but he's showed in the last two games the kind of class he has. Going hard in the first ten isn't something we've discussed. That's how Gill and I have batted together. We let our instincts take over. If the wicket is good, we keep going and things fall in place. Jadeja has been really good. Big matchwinner. He keeps doing the job, goes under the radar but today is a classic case of what he does - score late runs and take wickets. Not to get ahead of ourselves is something we are constantly talking about. When we turn up, we want to play to our potential,” Rohit concluded.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
'People don't give compliments..': Gautam Gambhir opens up about giving his Player of the Match award to Virat Kohli in 2009
'It took me 365 days to go from 49 to 50...': Sachin Tendulkar's epic reaction to Virat Kohli equalling his century record in ODIs
Virat Kohli's first reaction after equalling Sachin Tendulkar's tally of 49 ODI tons, says 'It’s stuff of dreams, it’s something you...'
T20 World Champion Sunil Narine announces retirement from international cricket, posts emotional letter on social media
