On November 5th, Indian star batter Virat Kohli achieved a significant milestone by securing his 49th ODI century during the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023, held at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India. Kohli’s century came in a brilliant innings where he scored 101 runs off 120 balls, ultimately contributing to India’s formidable total of 326/5 in 50 overs. This remarkable achievement sparked widespread discussions and comparisons with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, often referred to as the “God of Cricket.” Many cricketers and fans took to social media to laud Kohli’s prowess, with some even dubbing him the “G.O.A.T.” (Greatest of All Time).
One cricket legend who expressed his admiration for Kohli’s achievement is former Australian captain Ricky Ponting. While Ponting has always been an admirer of Sachin Tendulkar’s batting prowess, he offered an intriguing perspective on Virat Kohli’s feat.
According to Ponting, “There is no doubt he is the absolute best, and I have said that for a long time. He didn’t need to equal Sachin’s record; he doesn’t need to break the record. If you look at his overall batting record, it is incredible. To think that he got 49 ODI hundreds and equaled Sachin’s record, and did it in 175 fewer innings, is unbelievable.”
Kohli currently ranks second on the list of the highest run-scorers in the ICC World Cup 2023, amassing 543 runs from eight matches. He is just seven runs behind the tournament’s leading run-scorer, Quinton de Kock.
With India already securing a spot in the tournament’s semi-finals, scheduled to take place at Eden Gardens in Mumbai on November 15th, Ricky Ponting believes that Kohli’s extraordinary achievement has come at a perfect time for the Indian team. Ponting stated, “That might be a bit of a monkey off his back. I think he has been working extra hard to equal Sachin’s record. That’s done now, and it has happened at a really good time at the tournament for him. One more game to go, and then they head into the semi-finals. It was an almost perfect day for Virat and a great day for India.”
Virat Kohli’s stellar career continues to impress cricket enthusiasts worldwide, making him one of the sport’s all-time greats. His 49th ODI century signifies yet another remarkable milestone in his illustrious journey.