Virat Kohli scored his long-awaited 50th ODI ton in the first semi-final of the 2023 World Cup against New Zealand in Mumbai today (November 15). Tributes have poured in from all corners.
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Batting first at the Wankhede Stadium, India got off to a typically fast start courtesy of captain Rohit Sharma, who was dismissed for 47 off 29 balls in the ninth over, which brought Kohli to the crease.
Kohli anchored the innings to perfection, staying solid at one end as other batters went hammer and tongs around him. In the 27th over, he became the first batter to register eight 50-plus scores in a single edition of the World Cup.
Soon after, he broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most runs in a single World Cup edition, before breaking another one, that of the most ODI hundreds.
Kohli reached his 50th ODI ton in the 42nd over with a whip off his pads for two and celebrated by bowing down to Tendulkar, who was present at the stadium. He hit two more boundaries before getting dismissed on the last ball of the 44th over for 117 off 113 balls.
Almost everyone watching joined in to pay their tributes to Kohli and congratulate him on this special milestone, including Tendulkar, who narrated an incident from the first time he had met Kohli inside the Indian dressing room.
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
What a sense of occasion, what a knock! Another special hundred from a man who has made a habit of it at the World Cup. Virat Kohli is now in a league of one, going past the great Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI tons. To do it in the World Cup semis is extra special. Take a… pic.twitter.com/y2MAlfdC6J
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) November 15, 2023
Some walks at the Wankhede are 🐐ed 🥹@imVkohli @sachin_rt #PlayBold #INDvNZ #CWC23 #SachinTendulkar #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/kUh9m832fT
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) November 15, 2023
The perfect 10 year challenge!
15 Nov 2013 at WANKHEDE
Sachin Tendulkar plays his final international match.15 Nov 2023 at WANKHEDE
Virat Kohli breaks Sachin’s record of most ODI hundreds. pic.twitter.com/AdCM9E6MaQ— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) November 15, 2023
David Beckham said, “I’m in India at the very right time. I’ve seen the Diwali, today I saw Virat Kohli bat and reached his 50th century”. pic.twitter.com/PrrlyKUEoW
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 15, 2023
𝙈𝙊𝙉𝙐𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏𝘼𝙇! 🫡🫡
Virat Kohli surpasses the legendary Sachin Tendulkar and now has the most centuries in Men’s ODIs 👏👏#TeamIndia | #CWC23 | #MenInBlue | #INDvNZ | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/230u7JAxcJ
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 15, 2023
Only apt that Virat Kohli would take a bow to the man he now surpasses to officially be crowned the King of ODI batting & in the presence of Sir Viv Richards who wore that crown before Sachin Tendulkar took it from him in the 1990s #CWC23 #IndvNZ
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) November 15, 2023
Fitting for Virat Kohli to bring up his record 50th ODI hundred by charging back for a second run: testament to his fitness and professionalism at 35
— Matt Roller (@mroller98) November 15, 2023
A scampered two is the perfect way for Virat Kohli to bring up ODI hundred No.50
— Ben Gardner (@Ben_Wisden) November 15, 2023
