India superstar Virat Kohli has hit a record 50th century in one-day internationals, describing his landmark as the “perfect picture” as he surpassed the mark he shared with countryman Sachin Tendulkar at the World Cup.
Kohli raised his arms then sank to his knees and bowed to the fans with his helmet off on Wednesday after reaching three figures in the hosts’ eventually emphatic semi-final triumph against New Zealand at the Wankhede stadium.
He was 100 not out after facing 106 balls in what had been a virtually chanceless innings to that point.
The 50-year-old Tendulkar, the highest run-scorer in ODI and Test cricket, was in the crowd in Mumbai to see the latest landmark reached by Kohli, who was eventually dismissed for 117 and applauded off the field by India’s fans.
The 35-year-old Kohli, nicknamed “The King” in India and arguably the world’s most famous cricketer, was appearing in his 279th match in ODIs after making his debut in the 50-over format in 2008.
It was his third century at this World Cup, which he is making his own. He’s now scored 711 runs in this edition, the most by any batter in a men’s World Cup, surpassing Tendulkar’s 673 in 2003. His eight scores of 50-plus is also a record for a single tournament.
“It’s stuff of dreams, Anushka (his wife) was sitting right there, Sachin paaji was there in the stands,” Kohli said in the innings break.
“It’s very difficult for me to explain this, but if I could paint the perfect picture, I would want this to be the picture.
“My life partner, the person I love the most, she’s sitting there. My hero, he’s sitting there. And I was able to get the 50th in front of all of them and all these fans at Wankhede as well, such a historic venue. It was amazing.”
He finished the group stage as the top run-scorer in the tournament with 594 and averaging exactly 99.
Tendulkar scored his 49th hundred in his 451st ODI innings, and Kohli equalled that landmark in just 277 innings – and now he’s broken it in his 279th innings.
Virat Kohli celebrates after scoring his century, overtaking Sachin Tendulkar. (Photo by Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
“I said it in Kolkata, the great man (Tendulkar) just congratulated me, all this feels like a dream for me, honestly,” Kohli said.
“It’s too good to be true, feels surreal, I never thought I’ll be here ever in my career. Just to help the team so many times, again, a big game today, I had to kind of play the role I’ve played throughout the tournament so that the guys around me can go and express themselves.
“Just glad that everything came together so nicely and we put up a great total on the board as well.”
Ultimately, inspired by Kohli’s brilliance again, India’s mammoth 4-397 proved too much for New Zealand, who responded spiritedly before finally being bowled out for 327, with Mohammed Shami taking seven wickets and pipping the former captain to the player of the match award.
Kohli’s 117 and a blistering 105 from Shreyas Iyer helped India blast to just under 400 after they won the toss at the Wankhede Stadium, where the hosts had lifted their second and last 50-over World Cup trophy in 2011.
In reply, New Zealand, who beat India at the same stage in the 2019 tournament, made a brave fist of the chase but were eventually bundled out in the 49th over with Daryl Mitchell’s excellent innings of 134 proving all in vain.
Australia and South Africa will meet in the second semi-final at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on Thursday, with the final on Sunday in Ahmedabad.
Mitchell added 181 for the third wicket with Kane Williamson to keep the Black Caps firmly in the chase but Shami, who sent back both openers, returned to dismiss the New Zealand captain and Tom Latham in one over to put India on top.
The right-handed Mitchell suffered cramps after getting past his hundred but continued to plunder runs with Glenn Phillips during a 75-run stand before the latter fell for a 33-ball 41.
The target ultimately proved too steep, as the Indian juggernaut rolled on for their 10th win in as many matches in the 50-over showpiece.
Shami finished with figures of 7-57, his third five-wicket haul in the tournament.
Iyer’s blistering 105, which came off 70 balls and was studded with four fours and eight sixes, provided the late fireworks for India.
India captain Rohit Sharma, who made 47, gave the hosts a rollicking start in a 71-run opening stand with Shubman Gill.
Gill retired hurt due to leg cramps but returned to resume his innings and finished unbeaten on 80.
Vamsi K
Roar Rookie
If only the NZ main strike bowlers were a bit more economical, India might have been 30 to 40 runs short and that would have been the difference. And NZ in spite of losing 2 wickets had a healthy RR of around 6 and thereabouts at 15 over mark. Ifs and buts I know but I think that is the key difference that tilted the balance.
Ed Flanders
Roar Rookie
He's useless. He was useless before the WC too. Astonishingly overrated IPL bully.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
But NZ had little chance to score quickly enough early on - the amount of movement means it’s much harder to score without risking your wicket. So NZ were just too far behind after 10 overs.
Ravi
Roar Rookie
Maxwell passed 50 twice. Smashing the Netherlands and Afghanistan, (where he was dropped twice and edged the ball off both edges past the leg stump & through the vacant slips- all before 50). There's a reason his averages are where they are.
Vamsi K
Roar Rookie
While I don't rate SKY in ODI's yet, I think he didn't get many opportunities to come good, except for England game. Yesterday he had just 1 over and against Bangladesh when was looking good, was run out. I hope we don't have to find out how good he is apart from for 2 or 3 overs at the end even in the final.
Vamsi K
Roar Rookie
I think the advantage of batting first is evened out by the disadvantage of bowling second with dew, apart from the first 10-15 overs when the ball moved around. Any team which didn't lose many wickets found the batting easier after the initial hour. Pakistan recorded their highest chase as they didn't lose any wickets in the initial overs. Same was the case with NZ yesterday. Williamson and Mitchell ensured they didn't lose anymore wickets after the initial 2 and played slowly till 15th over, gradually starting to attack after that and even threatening to close in on the target at one stage. The Indian bowling was under immense pressure for the first time bowling under lights and it was only the pressure of score board that skittled NZ. Even if India scored 350, which might look good normally, under lights, it would have been too easy for NZ.
Vamsi K
Roar Rookie
Indian media, as is the case with most media everywhere in this era, just require click bait headlines. The one game India played on a slow wicket, vs England, they struggled to make it to 230. So, I don't know why they would ask for a slow pitch against a bowling attack as experienced as Boult, Santner, who are adept at exploiting slow wickets. One of reasons why they are keeping the wicket dry with just a little moisture is to ensure that when the dew comes in the second innings the wicket won't turn out to be an absolute road for the team batting second. This evens out winning toss a bit even if it doesn't remove the advantage completely. While there has been movement in the first 10-15 overs under lights, batting has become easier after that in the second innings. Problem was not many teams held on to wickets to reach 15 over mark to exploit the conditions, which NZ did very well yesterday and at one stage even threatened to close in on the target. Unless the Indian team was certain to win the toss they couldn't have asked for a specific kind of pitch. So, the pitch that was selected evened out the advantage of winning the toss and the dew factor in the second innings.
Ed Flanders
Roar Rookie
It's quite incredible how each of the semi finalists is carrying a passenger. India: SKY. He is the second most over rated cricketer in the tournament. Australia: Marcus Stoinis. The most over rated cricketer in the tournament. NZ: Tom Latham. Diabolically out of form. South Africa: Temba Bavuma. Just not up to the grade in that South African batting line up.
Ed Flanders
Roar Rookie
Cricinfo's score predictor is adjusted after each ball. It should be ignored. Gill getting injured, Kohli ambling to a century and SKY being predictably useless cost them 400
Ed Flanders
Roar Rookie
The pitch wasn't slow though. You can't score 400 on slow pitches unless you are very, very, very good.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I've no idea why you've decided I thought the Indians doctored the pitch for spin. This is what I read and posted elsewhere; The Indian Express reported Indian officials asked BCCI curators to shave off most of the grass on the playing surface, deciding on their preference after the win over the Netherlands in Bengaluru. A Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) official reportedly confirmed to the newspaper a message was conveyed to prepare a slow track before the home team reached Mumbai. “It won’t be a turner but the team had asked for a slow pitch. It was the main reason we shaved off the grass,” a source told the newspaper.
piru
Roar Rookie
Certainly didn't help, did it?
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Interesting comment. I seem to recall earlyish in the Indian innings, when they were going close to 10 an over, the score predicted was 357.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Verified their source? Does that still happen in journalism? :happy:
Ed Flanders
Roar Rookie
Does anyone think that Tom Latham popping into bat at number 5 absolutely destroyed the momentum? I mean, what was he thinking?
ColinT
Roar Rookie
Well, I do accept that. I have never read the Indian Express, but I expect they are more reliable than the Daily Mail. Hopefully they verified their source.
Bandit
Roar Rookie
The issue isn't that it was played on a used pitch, its that the BCCI interfered with the preparation. How it played, how many runs were scored and who took the wickets is irrelevant . They asked for specific conditions and got them, which goes against the ICC rules for these events.
Ed Flanders
Roar Rookie
Don't explain to me...explain to Arnab.
sedz
Roar Rookie
Kohli could have played a lot more faster. He's more focussed on his century than winning the game but I think Rohit, Rahul and Shreyas did a lot damage with the run rate. Having said that Shami was the difference between both teams. Shami took 5 for 54 in the last outing between Ind vs NZ in which India batted first.
piru
Roar Rookie
That was hard to watch as a Kiwi. Koli and Shreyas looked like they were playing a different sport, then Shami just casually stops the comeback hopes within an over. Well done India