Cricket: Kohli Equals Sachin Tendulkar’s World Record Of 49 ODI Centuries

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Eden Gardens, Nov 5, 2023: The joy of a crowd of almost 70,000 knew no bounds on Sunday as Virat Kohli equalled Sachin Tendulkar’s world record of 49 ODI hundreds in India’s World Cup match against South Africa. The occasion is also Kohli’s 35th birthday.

Kohli reached a record-hundred off 119 balls, inching closer to the milestone in the 49th over of India’s innings by dodging Rabada to cover for a single in front of a near-capacity crowd at Eden Gardens.

At a venue, where Sachin Tendulkar has had many memorable performances, Virat Kohli equaled a world record, held by the former, in emphatic fashion. Till now, Sachin Tendulkar held the world record of 49 ODI tons. Now Virat Kohli has reached the mark in 277 innings. And, he will most probably surpass that mark too and set a new world record in the ongoing Cricket World Cup. Interestingly, it was at the Eden Gardens where Virat Kohli had scored his first ODI ton (vs Sri Lanka in 2009).

Virat Kohli now has two centuries in the 2023 World Cup with four half-centuries in eight league games so far. After South Africa’s Quinton De Kock, he is the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament so far.

Congratulating Kohli, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah tweeted, "Virat Kohli smashes a magnificent century on his birthday against South Africa! What a brilliant performance on this special day! His century is a testament to his unparalleled skill, and this achievement equals the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI centuries. A remarkable milestone for a cricket legend!"