Star batsman Virat Kohli recently achieved a significant milestone by equalling Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI centuries. Kohli, expressing his admiration for Tendulkar, described him as the epitome of perfection in batting. In a heartfelt interview, Kohli shared his emotions.
“It’s overwhelming for me right now. Matching my hero’s record is truly special. He is the epitome of perfection in batting,” he said.
Reflecting on the unexpected accomplishment, Kohli expressed his gratitude.
“I idolized him growing up, began playing for India while watching him in action. To match his ODI record is surreal. I never imagined reaching this point in my wildest dreams. I feel blessed and grateful. As I mentioned after the match, he will always be my number one, no matter what unfolds,” he added.
Acknowledging the flood of congratulatory messages on social media, Tendulkar himself extended his wishes to Kohli. In a message on X (formerly Twitter), Tendulkar wrote, “Well played Virat. I hope you go from 49 to 50 and break my record in the next few days. Congratulations.”
Looking ahead, Kohli expressed his aspirations to continue his remarkable form in the ongoing World Cup. With 543 runs from eight innings, Kohli aims to contribute significantly in crucial matches.
“I’m delighted that my journey has brought me this far, allowing me to contribute to winning games for my country, much like he did. I aspire to continue in the same vein because doing so increases our chances of winning. I would love to replicate this in the upcoming tournament, particularly in crucial matches like the semis and final. Fingers crossed, hopefully, I can achieve that,” he concluded.
As India prepares to face the Netherlands in their final round-robin fixture of the World Cup 2023, all eyes are on Virat Kohli’s pursuit of breaking Tendulkar’s record in the upcoming matches, with the team gearing up for the semi-finals.