Mumbai, November 15
In a historic moment for Indian cricket, Virat Kohli achieved a remarkable milestone on Wednesday by securing his 50th century in One-Day International (ODI) cricket during the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 clash against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium.
Kohli reached the century mark in 106 balls, showcasing his masterful batting skills with eight boundaries and one maximum. This achievement propelled him past the previous record of 49 centuries, a milestone he had shared with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
The 50th century for Kohli came in 279 innings, and the Wankhede Stadium had been buzzing with anticipation as fans hoped to witness this historic feat. Kohli had narrowly missed the opportunity in India’s last league match against the Netherlands, but he made no mistake this time around.
The record-breaking innings occurred after Kohli had equaled Tendulkar’s record with an unbeaten 101 against South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on November 5. Sachin Tendulkar, who was present at the Wankhede Stadium to witness Kohli surpass him, now holds the second spot with 49 centuries achieved in 452 innings.
Following Kohli and Tendulkar in the list of most ODI centuries are India’s captain Rohit Sharma with 31 tons from 253 innings, and Australia’s Ricky Ponting with 30 centuries in 365 innings. Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya secures the fifth position with 28 hundreds off 433 innings.
The cricketing world now celebrates Virat Kohli’s remarkable achievement as he cements his legacy as one of the greatest ODI batsmen of all time.
This milestone was achieved during the World Cup semifinal against New Zealand in Mumbai, where Kohli displayed impeccable batting prowess. The Indian skipper’s century, comprising 100 runs off 106 balls, featured 8 fours and 1 six. Notably, this remarkable achievement also propelled Kohli past Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI centuries, solidifying his status as one of the greatest batsmen in the format. The cricketing world is abuzz with admiration for Kohli’s unparalleled feat, marking a significant chapter in the sport’s history.
“Kohli’s Century Ignites Record-Breaking Run Fest in World Cup Semifinal”
In a dazzling display of cricketing prowess, Virat Kohli’s elegant century served as the cornerstone for India’s formidable start in the World Cup semifinal in Mumbai. The Indian openers set the stage with a blistering performance, laying the foundation for a potentially colossal score. Despite Kohli’s departure at 117, India, with ample wickets in hand and power hitters to follow, had their sights set on a monumental total. The momentum continued with Shreyas Iyer’s breathtaking century, achieved in just 67 balls, propelling India to the highest-ever total in a Men’s Cricket World Cup semifinal.
Mitchell Santner showcased bowling excellence, securing figures of 1/51 for the Kiwis. Meanwhile, Tim Southee claimed three of the four wickets to fall, albeit with expensive figures of 3/100. As the target looms at 397, New Zealand faces the formidable task of conjuring something extraordinary to chase down the imposing total. The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion in this high-stakes encounter.
