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Virat Kohli has etched his name into the annals of cricketing history by notching up his 49th ODI century in Match 37 of the ODI World Cup 2023 against South Africa at the Eden Gardens on Sunday.
Virat has now levelled the long-standing record of Indian cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar, who has the same number of tonnes (49) to his name in one-day internationals. Kohli now stands just one century to achieve a phenomenal milestone of notching 50 centuries in the ODI format .
While the whole world heaped praises on Virat for his remarkable achievement, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri, who worked closely with the Indian batting maestro during his tenure, also applauded Kohli for his achievement.
Ravi Shastri’s remarks on Virat Kohli’s achievement
Shastri commended Virat for his outstanding performance at the crease, recognizing the formidable challenge of batting on the challenging pitch of Eden Gardens, particularly with the ball’s unpredictable grip. He further mentioned that Virat adeptly absorbed the mounting pressure and ensured that India set an imposing total on the scoreboard.
“Today, it was a very calculated innings. He started off quick, when the ball was coming onto the bat. And when the ball started gripping, it wasn’t easy to pick the bowlers. So, he soaked the pressure, bid his time, and upped the ante,” Shastri said during the mid-innings show on Star Sports following Kohli’s record-equalling century.
The former Indian cricketer also drew parallels between Virat and Sachin, highlighting the common challenges they encountered while pursuing significant accomplishments in their careers.
Also READ – ‘Yes, Kohli is selfish’: Venkatesh Prasad’s hot take after Virat Kohli slams 49th ton in IND vs SA game – ODI World Cup 2023
Ravi Shastri’s revelation on Sachin Tendulkar
Shastri reminisced about how Tendulkar experienced sleepless nights while in pursuit of the legendary Sunil Gavaskar’s record of 34 Test centuries.
“It’s amazing. We are a country obsessed with records. We are obsessed with hundreds. And Sunny was the trendsetter. I remember when Sachin Tendulkar was chasing his 34th, it wasn’t easy. He had many sleepless nights, he would get out in the 70s and 80s. And it took a while, just like it has taken Virat Kohli,” the 61-year-old added to his comments.
