On his 35th birthday, Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli gifted himself a spectacular birthday present – a record-equalling 49th century in One Day International (ODI) cricket. Kohli's remarkable achievement came during the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup match against South Africa, cementing his status as one of the game's all-time greats. The only player ahead of him with as many ODI centuries is the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
In this highly-anticipated World Cup clash at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Kohli showcased his enduring talent and tenacity. India, who had secured seven consecutive victories in the tournament, aimed to extend their winning streak to eight under Kohli's leadership. It was a significant match, not just for the World Cup campaign but also for Kohli personally, as he aimed to equal Sachin Tendulkar's record.
In the previous game against Sri Lanka, Kohli had narrowly missed out on reaching a century, scoring 82 runs. The missed opportunity to equal Tendulkar's record at the latter's home ground, the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, was a source of disappointment for Kohli and his fans. However, he left no room for disappointment in Kolkata.
Kohli's journey to his 49th ODI century was not without its challenges. South African spinner Keshav Maharaj posed a significant threat to Kohli, beating him multiple times and even prompting a review for a possible edge off Kohli's bat, which he survived. Despite these early setbacks, Kohli's partnership with Shreyas Iyer (77) was crucial in rebuilding the Indian innings. They meticulously rotated the strike and steadied the ship.
Kohli took on the role of the aggressor in the partnership, while Iyer, who had faced scrutiny in the World Cup for not converting starts into substantial scores, played defensively at the outset. Kohli reached his half-century in 67 deliveries, while Iyer found his rhythm and reached his fifty in the 31st over.
The South African bowlers remained disciplined, offering Kohli limited scoring opportunities. The pitch's slowing nature made timing the ball challenging, forcing Kohli to rely on quick singles and twos to accumulate runs.
Finally, in the 49th over against Kagiso Rabada, Kohli achieved his record-equalling 49th ODI century. He reached the milestone with a single off his 119th delivery, marking a defining moment in his illustrious career, all on his 35th birthday. Kohli's innings featured 10 fours but no sixes, highlighting his ability to play classical and controlled cricket in a format often associated with aggressive hitting.
This century is Kohli's second in the ongoing World Cup edition, adding to his five fifties, and his third century in the tournament's history. In international cricket, it was his 79th hundred, keeping him 21 centuries shy of matching Sachin Tendulkar's record of 100 international centuries.
