• Virat Kohli became the first batter to record 50 ODI centuries in the cricketing history on Wednesday, November 15.

  • Tennis icon Novak Djokovic congratulated Virat Kohli on the significant milestone and hailed him as 'legendary'.

Tennis star Novak Djokovic congratulates Virat Kohli on his historic 50th ODI ton during IND vs NZ semifinal – ODI World Cup 2023
Novak Djokovic and Virat Kohli (Image Source: Twitter)

The first semifinal of the ODI World Cup 2023 between India and New Zealand saw Virat Kohli etch his name into the cricketing annals by becoming the first batter to achieve the remarkable feat of registering 50 ODI centuries. The Indian cricketing maestro not only propelled his team into the finals of the ODI World Cup 2023 with his century knock but also surpassed the legendary Sachin Tendulkar‘s world record of 49 hundreds.

As accolades poured in for Kohli from all corners, one heartwarming and notable congratulatory message came from the tennis star Novak Djokovic. The living legend in the sport took a moment to acknowledge Kohli’s incredible achievement, which soon went viral on the internet.

Novak Djokovic’s recognition of Virat Kohli’s greatness

A name synonymous with tennis greatness, Djokovic extended his heartfelt congratulations to Kohli via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle.

The Serbian tennis icon, who boasts a record 24 men’s singles Grand Slam titles, acknowledged Kohli’s historic feat by labelling him as ‘legendary.’ In a concise yet powerful tweet, Djokovic wrote, “Congratulations @imVkohli Legendary.”

Djokovic’s acknowledgement is not merely a routine congratulatory message as it underscores the global impact and recognition that Kohli’s achievement has garnered. Djokovic, with his unparalleled success on the tennis court, stands as a symbol of excellence in the world of sports. His tribute to the Delhi-born cricketer highlights the universal admiration for sporting achievements transcending the boundaries of specific disciplines.

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India’s dominance in the semifinal

Kohli’s historic century was not only a personal milestone but also a pivotal contribution to India’s commanding victory over New Zealand in the ODI World Cup 2023 semifinal.

Opting to bat first in the high-stakes encounter against the Blackcaps, India’s top-order batters displayed exceptional prowess, with Kohli playing a masterful innings of 117 runs off 113 deliveries and helping the team post an imposing total of 397-4 in their allotted 50 overs. Shreyas Iyer (105), Shubman Gill (80) and Rohit Sharma (47) also contributed significantly to India’s total.

The bowling department, led by Mohammed Shami, further solidified India’s dominance. Shami’s historic 7-wicket haul dismantled the Kiwi lineup, leading India into the final of the ODI World Cup 2023. The comprehensive 70-run victory showcased India’s prowess in all facets of the game

Also READ: A sneak peek into Mohammed Shami’s luxurious farmhouse in Amroha that features cricketing pitches and much more

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Vishwanath Hariharan is Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. From breaking news stories to in-depth features and opinion pieces, he has covered a wide range of topics. Vishwanath is very fond of watching cricket. Like many others, he too grew up watching, playing, and imitating his favourite players of the game. MS Dhoni is like a demigod to him. You can connect with him at vishwanath.hariharan@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter & Linkedin.