Virat Kohli notched his 50th ODI century in the presence of his idol Sachin Tendulkar and his wife Anushka Sharma, humbly bowing to Tendulkar while receiving a standing ovation from the legend and the crowd.
During the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 semi-final between India and New Zealand at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, Virat Kohli achieved an unparalleled milestone by securing his 50th ODI century, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record. Kohli’s historic innings were laced with determination, battling through cramps, yet displaying unmatched resilience.
As he breached the three-figure mark, emotions overflowed, evident as he knelt in gratitude. Amidst the stadium’s uproar and his wife Anushka Sharma’s elation, Kohli, overwhelmed by the magnitude of the moment, paid a heartfelt homage to Tendulkar by bowing down to his idol in the stands. Anushka, joyous and proud, blew flying kisses to Kohli in celebration of his incredible achievement.
Speaking post-match, Kohli struggled to encapsulate the significance of the achievement, describing it as a surreal dream come true.
“Again, the great man just congratulated me. It feels like a dream. Too good to be true. Big game for us and I played the role so that the guys around me can come and express themselves. As I said, for me the most important thing is to make my team win. I’ve been given a role this tournament and I’m trying to dig deep. That’s the key to consistency – play according to the situation and play for the team. It’s the stuff of dreams,” he said.
“Sachin paaji was there in the stands. It’s very difficult for me to express it. My life partner, my hero – he’s sitting there. And all these fans at the Wankhede,” Kohli added.
Last Updated on November 15, 2023
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