Last Update on: November 15th, 2023 at 06:56 pm
Batting great Sachin Tendulkar heaped rich praise on Virat Kohli after the latter broke his record for the most ODI centuries. He said that he couldn’t be happier that India broke his record that too in the semi-final of the ICC World Cup 2023.
Virat Kohli created history as he broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most centuries in the ODIs. The right-hander set the stage on fire at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and made sure that India posted a big total in the semi-final of the tournament.
Virat Kohli, who has been in the red hot form in the ICC World Cup 2023, continued his golden touch and played a staggering innings. He crafted his innings perfectly and notched up the third ton in the 10 innings that he has played in the tournament so far.
Virat Kohli also broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record of most runs in a single edition of the World Cup. He surpassed the batting great’s tally of 673 runs and became the first batter in World Cup history to score 700 runs in an edition.
Virat Kohli ended with a knock of 117 runs off 113 balls. He batted with a strike rate of 103.53 and also smashed 9 fours and 2 sixes in his innings. As he completed his century, he bowed down to Sachin Tendulkar, who couldn’t stop clapping for him.
Sachin Tendulkar, who was present in the stands, lauded Virat Kohli for his stupendous innings and recalled how he was pranked when he first entered the dressing room. He said that he couldn’t be happier that the young boy turned into a ‘Virat’ batter. Taking to his X account, he stated:
“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.”
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.
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) November 15, 2023
IND vs NZ: All this feels like a dream – Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli talked about his innings and said it feels like a dream to him. He added that he was glad that everything came up nicely for him. The batter also talked about how he maintains the consistency. Speaking to broadcasters, he elaborated:
“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 could go and express themselves. Just glad everything came together so nicely and we put up a great total on the board as well.
“(On how he gets the consistency going) 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.”
India would be hoping to defend the target and advance to the finals in Ahmedabad.
