Virat Kohli Statement:After securing his 49th century in the One-Day International (ODI) match against South Africa in the 37th World Cup, former Indian team captain Virat Kohli expressed his gratitude to the almighty. He also explained the challenges of batting on the Kolkata pitch, where he played a slow-paced innings.
Well played Virat.
It took me 365 days to go from 49 to 50 earlier this year. I hope you go from 49 to 50 and break my record in the next few days.
Congratulations!!#INDvSA pic.twitter.com/PVe4iXfGFk— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) November 5, 2023
Kolkata: Former Indian team captain Virat Kohli played a remarkable innings against South Africa in the 37th World Cup match, scoring an unbeaten 101 runs with the help of 10 boundaries in 121 deliveries. This performance helped India set a target of 326 runs for South Africa, losing 5 wickets in 50 overs. It marked his 49th century in his ODI career, equaling the record set by his cricket idol, Sachin Tendulkar. This century was particularly special for Kohli as he achieved it on his 35th birthday.
After the innings, Virat Kohli commented on the challenging conditions of the pitch, saying, “This was a wicket where batting was quite difficult. We got a great start from Rohit and Shubman, and my job was to carry it forward. After the 10th over, the ball started gripping and turning. It became slow, and I had to take on a greater role. I aimed to bat for a longer period. The team management had instructed me to do so.”
The Domination Level of Indians!💯#INDvSA #ODIWorldCup2023 #ICCWorldCup2023 #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/bmLpDIi9TP
— RVCJ Media (@RVCJ_FB) November 5, 2023
Praising Shreyas Iyer’s performance, Kohli said: “Shreyas played well, and in the end, we added some more runs. We have had discussions during the Asia Cup. Since we bat at the third and fourth positions, this partnership was crucial to take the game forward. We have depth in our team, so we knew that losing one or two wickets could cost us.”
Kohli also expressed his gratitude to the divine, saying, “I am thankful to God for giving me the opportunity to play and contribute to the team’s success. It’s a great feeling to score a century on such a significant occasion, my birthday. The pitch is slow, and we have a quality bowling lineup. But we need to work hard. Wickets will be crucial; taking early wickets will put pressure on South Africa, given the behavior of this pitch.
