Virat Kohli has celebrated his 35th birthday in style with a record-equalling 49th one-day international hundred to help India smash South Africa by 243 runs at the World Cup.
Kohli scored 101 not out off 121 balls — to move level in the all-time ODI ton table with another India batting great Sachin Tendulkar — as he powered his side to 5-326 at Eden Gardens on Sunday.
He added 134 off 158 balls for the third wicket with Shreyas Iyer, who scored 77 off 87.
“I am grateful to God for giving me the chance to play and contribute to the team’s success,” Kohli said. “It’s great to get a hundred on my birthday in front of this big crowd at this great venue.”
The day got even better for India. Facing the best bowling attack in the tournament, South Africa crashed to 83 all out in just 27.1 overs, their second-lowest total in ODIs.
Both India and South Africa have already qualified for the semifinals — the top two sides in the points’ table – but the hosts are the only undefeated side in the tournament with eight consecutive wins, sitting atop the table with 16 points.
South Africa have 12 points — six wins in eight games – but the other two berths are still up for grabs, with Australia on 10 points and New Zealand, Pakistan and Afghanistan all on eight.
South Africa’s batters fell easily as Ravindra Jadeja picked up his ODI best 5-33 in nine overs, while Mohammed Shami took 2-18 off four overs and Kuldeep Yadav impressed with 2-7 in 5.1 overs.
“It was a tricky wicket to bat on,” Kohli said. “The pitch was on the slower side and I was told by the team management to bat deep. Shreyas played well and we got a few more runs towards the end.
“Every opportunity to play for India is big one for me. To be able to do that on my birthday, in front of the whole crowd, it’s stuff of dreams, something that as a child you wish had happened.”
While Tendulkar scored his 49th century in his 451st ODI innings, Kohli reached the landmark in just 277.
“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!!” Tendulkar said on social media platform X.
Chasing 327, South Africa’s innings was in disarray from the beginning as in-form Quinton de Kock chopped onto his stumps off Mohammed Siraj in the second over.
Jadeja bowled beautifully as South Africa crashed from 1-22 to 5-40 and then 6-59.
Earlier, India chose to bat first and skipper Rohit Sharma gave India a quick start, scoring 40 off 24 balls, putting on 62 off only 35 balls with Shubman Gill.
Kohli reached 50 off 67 balls and then slowed down in the second half of his innings.
Some 68,000 fans cheered as Kohli got to the record-equalling milestone in the 49th over.
His 100 came off 119 balls – the joint most deliveries Kohli has faced to reach his century alongside Adelaide in the 2015 World Cup (versus Pakistan) and Cape Town in 2018 (versus South Africa).
Jadeja smacked 29 not out off 15 balls, with three fours and a six, in an all-round team performance for two-time champions India.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
India is a force to be reckoned with. IF the Australian camp comes up against them in the finals, we need to make every post a winner. That includes getting the batting line up right for the situation in play. So, if we lose a wicket early in the batting patting power play, then the players capable of hitting OVER the infield and finding the boundary need to come in at 3 - that's Marsh or Green. Labs and Smith - who are (mostly) along the ground/inner circle gap accumulators - need to bat in the middle orders, AFTER the power play, when the field is out. Team order was all wrong against England - but we got away with it (just) because of England's current form. The India match-up will not be so forgiving if we don't play to our maximum advantages.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Choke ? But when Australia and everyone else lost to India what would that then be called …? Real truth is that when Proteas left SA there were very few expectations from them by the public ..None really so they probably have already exceeded that this tournament and most definetely will by making the knockouts .
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Is the report going to say “choke” every time SA loses? The dismissal of Klaasen was another case of DRS ball tracking failing. The trajectory of the ball shown on ball tracking was quite different to that shown in the previous slow motion replays which indicated it was going to miss leg stump or just possibly clip it, making it umpire’s call, not out.
sedz
Roar Rookie
Lot of times, this WC victory shows its a luck. Man to man India is the best team.
sedz
Roar Rookie
My thought was why didn't SA put up a fight? They're the second best team. Also I think batting first they would have set up a score north of 350 every game. So what's making up them not to chase? They faltered against Dutch, almost fell over vs Pakistan and haven't showed up vs India.
sedz
Roar Rookie
If India knew that Bumrah will get injured they have man to man replacement, but injury to Hardik and given that Jadeja is the only all rounder we have selected is a concern. India can win this or may win this. I am still wondering, if Pakistan or NZ is gonna come to SF. Who is gonna play whom is not finalized yet.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
There must have been a strong case for Jadeja to get man of the match before Kohli?
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
What a great game for the sea of blue. India looking unstoppable
Noel
Roar Rookie
No doubt... But it's still a bit of a worry for everyone else that our best hope of overcoming this team is that someone goes out injured, or a couple of them endure bad days at the same time. To the extent that they heavily rely on plan A - it's a pretty good plan!
sedz
Roar Rookie
Ashwin is a great bowler and he can fill any of the roles. But I guess Arnab says, if Bumrah or any of the pace bowlers break down in the SF or Finals. There is not enough part timers to fill up his role. Iyer, Gill, Rahul, Rohit or SKY can't bowl. Virat Kohli can bowl pies that can be dealt with. In the past, Sachin, Sehwag, Ganguly all can be a perfect part timers.
Noel
Roar Rookie
Only five frontline bowlers which will be exposed on a bad day - I agree to an extent, but the quality of this Indian bowling unit is demonstrated by the fact that Shami wasn't in the first XI at the start of the WC, and they still have a pretty handy spinner in the squad who can't get a game... I really thought this was going to be a ding dong battle leading into the finals. This Indian team is imperious...
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
Kohli sacrificed his SR ( and rightfully so) thanks to Iyer. I think he was 10 off 30 at one stage before getting his innings going by taking on Shamsi and ultimately getting 77 at a SR over 90. If Rohit Sharma wasn’t in this India team, I’d say Iyer is the best player of spin in the Indian team.
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
Outstanding from Kohli. Haven’t seen Kolkata turn like this since 2012 when it was known to be a turner. Kohli’s first ODI ton came in Kolkata in a run chase against Sri Lanka in 2009. Perhaps it was written in the stars that his 49th one that would equal his idol’s record would come in the same ground where he scored his first ODI ton. India looking good but they have the same problem RSA faced last night - only five frontline bowlers which will be exposed on a bad day.
matth
Roar Guru
India are seriously scary at the moment. Kohli scored at an 82 strike rate. It’s almost as if he read the pitch and played a proper innings. Too slow. Drop him! :laughing: :laughing: