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Netizens hailed Virat Kohli after the premier India batter set a new world record in the 2023 Cricket World Cup game against Sri Lanka on Thursday.
The Delhi-born cricketer, known for his love affair with records, broke Sachin Tendulkar's world record in ODIs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
During his 88-run knock against Sri Lanka, Virat Kohli completed a thousand runs in ODIs in 2023, marking the eighth occasion when he has compiled such numbers in a calendar year in the 50-over format.
It took him 23 innings to touch the landmark figure this year.
Before amassing a thousand-plus runs in 2023, Virat Kohli attained similar feats in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2019.
It made Virat Kohli the first men's cricketer to have over a thousand runs in a calendar year eight times.
Before Virat Kohli, his idol Sachin Tendulkar reached the milestone seven times in 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003, and 2007.
However, Virat Kohli failed to equal Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 centuries in ODIs despite reaching the verge of a hundred at the Wankhede Stadium.
Virat Kohli has registered 48 centuries in ODIs, with his last three-figure score coming against Bangladesh last month.
Virat Kohli arrived at the crease following the early dismissal of Rohit Sharma and later combined with Shubman Gill to steady the ship for India.
The pair were engaged in an 189-run partnership that laid the foundation of India's mammoth score of 357/8, which in large part was attributed to splendid knocks from Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and Shreyas Iyer.
Shubman Gill looked good to score his maiden hundred in the World Cup but fell for 92 off 92 deliveries after playing a poor shot off Dilshan Madushanka in the 30th over.
Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer were undone by slower balls from the same bowler, losing their wickets for 88 and 82, respectively.
In reply, the entire Sri Lankan batting line-up fell like nine-pins, getting all-out for only 55 runs, handing India a 301-run victory at the Wankhede Stadium.
The Indian pacers led by Mohammed Shami were relentless throughout the Sri Lankan innings, and the islanders found no answer to their seam and swing bowling.
Mohammed Shami again picked up a fifer after his heroics against New Zealand in Dharamshala earlier in the World Cup.
On the other hand, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj started the carnage, with the former grabbing a wicket while the latter sent three back to the pavilion to leave Sri Lanka in tatters at 4/3.
Subsequently, it became a Mohammed Shami show as he ended up with figures of 5/18 to complete Sri Lanka's destruction in Mumbai.
The win over Sri Lanka made India the first team to qualify for the semifinals in the Cricket World Cup.
After seven matches, Rohit Sharma and his boys have 14 points and are the only side to remain unbeaten in the prestigious competition.
Also, the triumph against Sri Lanka was Virat Kohli's 308th in India's colors, taking him past Sachin Tendulkar's 307 wins.
Indians part of most wins:
Virat Kohli – 308*.
Sachin Tendulkar – 307. pic.twitter.com/3A3kGOwSpx
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 2, 2023
Most wins for India in International cricket:
Virat Kohli – 308*
Sachin Tendulkar – 307 pic.twitter.com/KGCzVMVlGV
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 2, 2023
After the match, Rohit Sharma expressed his happiness about India making it through to the semifinals.
“Very happy knowing that we have officially qualified now. Been a good effort from the squad, when we started off in Chennai. This was our goal, to qualify first and then obviously to be in the semis and the finals. The way we approached these 7 games, it was quite clinical. Everyone put in the effort and a lot of individuals have put their hand up,” Rohit Sharma said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
The India skipper praised middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer for his whirlwind knock of 82 off 56 balls. Shreyas Iyer was under pressure to produce a good innings, with many cricket experts questioning his place in the side.
“Shreyas is a very strong (in his mind) lad and he went there and did what he is exactly known for and that is what we expect from him. Shreyas showed that he is ready to take the challenge that is in front of him,” Rohit Sharma added.
The Nagpur-born cricketer paid rich plaudits to Mohammed Siraj, who does the job for the team with the new ball.
“Siraj is a quality bowler and if he does that with new ball things look different for us. He has got a lot of skills when he is operating with the new ball,” Rohit Sharma noted.
Mohammed Shami, who bagged the Player of the Match for his figures of 5/18, credited the bowling rhythm that Indian bowlers have found during matches for their success.
“All the hard work we are putting in, the rhythm we have found, it's because of that that you are getting to see this storm (on the cricket field), the incredible things our bowling unit is doing. The rhythm we are bowling with, I can't believe anyone will not enjoy it. So, yes, we are enjoying ourselves a lot and working together as a unit, and you are able to see the results of that,” he explained.
“Yeah, I am trying (to do my best), as always, trying to pitch the ball in the right areas and trying to find the right rhythm, because in big tournaments, if you lose the rhythm it's very difficult to get it back. So right from the start, the attempt has been to focus on the right areas and right lengths, and it's working, so why not try to repeat it? Yeah, it's tough, but I will say it again: your rhythm has to be right and the areas you hit must be right. Especially with the white ball, if you hit the right areas, you get movement off the pitch,” Mohammed Shami emphasized.
“So that's what matters the most. Not rocket science. Just a matter of rhythm, good food, keep your mind uncluttered, and, most importantly, the love of the people. The support we get in India has a huge role. When you go out of India, you get so much support from Indians. So I will keep trying to make everyone happy,” he underlined.
Meanwhile, former England captain Nasser Hussain underlined that Virat Kohli shouldn't feel disappointed about missing out on his 49th hundred as the focus should be on winning the World Cup for Team India.
“Winning the World Cup is the most important thing. He will get the 49, he will get the 50th. He will probably get a 100 international hundreds, he is that good. But the more important thing is winning the World Cup. India must not build it up to be about his 49th,” Nasser Hussain said on Star Sports.
“I remember Sachin had spoken about it, the only time he really felt the enormity of who he was when going from 99 to 100, the person in the room service before he hung up asked him ‘are you going to get your 100th today?”
“He hid himself from the noise, he shut out the noise and the only time he could hear the noise was from 99 to 100. So, I just hope that Virat can hide away from that noise, just for a few weeks longer,” he stressed.
Next, India will play South Africa in the tournament at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday in a clash between the top two sides in the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
Presently, the South Africans occupy the second spot on the table with 12 points.
“They (South Africa) are playing some good cricket, and so are we. It's going to be a great spectacle for the people out there and people of Kolkata are going to enjoy that game,” Rohit Sharma concluded.
