The historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata witnessed a momentous day as Virat Kohli reached his 49th ODI century. It’s worth noting that this was the very ground where Kohli notched his maiden ODI century, making the achievement even more poetic. In an innings characterized by grace and precision, Kohli scored a sublime 101 runs off 121 deliveries, including 10 boundaries. The atmosphere was electric as fans witnessed history in the making.
Former Australia Captain and cricket legend Ricky Ponting couldn’t help but shower praise on Virat Kohli’s brilliance. He expressed his awe at Kohli’s ability to equal Sachin Tendulkar’s record with such finesse. What stood out for Ponting was the fact that Kohli reached this milestone 175 innings faster than Tendulkar. Ponting didn’t mince words when he declared Kohli as the best batsman the game has seen.
Ponting remarked, “There is no doubt that he (Virat Kohli) is the absolute best. You know, I’ve said it for a long time: he didn’t need to equal Sachin’s record; he didn’t need to break the record as far as I am concerned; I mean, look at his overall record; it’s incredible. I think that he got 49 hundreds and equalled Sachin in 175 innings less is unbelievable.”
While the cricketing world celebrated Kohli’s achievement, there was an underlying pressure that the Indian skipper had been shouldering. The quest to equal Sachin’s record had been a constant endeavour. With this milestone now achieved, Virat Kohli can shift his focus entirely to the upcoming knockout games. As India moves towards the semi-finals, this victory at Eden Gardens is a significant weight lifted off Kohli’s shoulders.
Ponting observed, “It’s an unbelievable win for his team as well, which I’m sure he’ll talk about a lot tonight, but I think, to him, that might be a bit of a monkey off his back. I think he has been working extra hard to equal Sachin’s record. That’s done now, and it has happened at a really good time at the tournament for him. One more game to go, and then they head into the semi-finals. It was an almost perfect day for Virat and a great day for India.”
‘I Am Never Going To Be As Good As Him’, Virat Kohli Outstanding Statement After Equalling Sachin’s 49th Hundred Record
India’s resounding victory over South Africa not only marked a significant personal achievement for Kohli but also solidified India’s position at the top of the table in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. With this win, India secured their spot in the first semi-final, set to take place at the historic Wankhede Stadium on 15th November. It’s a date with destiny as India returns to the very ground where they clinched the 2011 World Cup.
