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OTD In 2023:  Virat Kohli Equalled Sachin Tendulkar's Record With His 49th ODI Century

Jatin

Virat Kohli scored his 49th ODI hundred OTD in 2023 [Source: @kohliception/x.com]Virat Kohli scored his 49th ODI hundred OTD in 2023 [Source: @kohliception/x.com]

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As the calendar turns to November 5, cricket fans cannot help but feel a sense of nostalgia and admiration. On this day, last year, fans witnessed a performance for the ages from the modern-day master Virat Kohli, who scored a sensational hundred vs South Africa during the ODI World Cup 2023 on his 35th birthday. As Kohli turns 36, there couldn't be a more suitable time to revisit the iconic century.

Virat Kohli Hit Milestone Century on His Birthday Last Year

It was more than just another hundred – it was his 49th, and at Eden Gardens, no less. He matched the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s ODI centuries record in style, and the crowd, already pumped up, was on its feet.

Kohli’s innings didn’t start in calm waters. India lost skipper Rohit Sharma early – a quickfire 40 off 24, and then he was gone. Kohli walked in with India at 62/1 after 5.5 overs, and the stage was set.

South Africa’s bowlers were looking sharp, but Kohli settled in, working the gaps, keeping things ticking over. Shubman Gill was the next to depart with the score at 93. But Kohli just kept at it, focused and steady.

With Shreyas Iyer at the other end, they started to rebuild, keeping the scoreboard moving. They put together a solid stand – 134 runs. Virat Kohli was inching closer to history.

Then, it was the 49th over. Kohli on 99, Kagiso Rabada steaming in. And what does Kohli do? Just a smooth punch to cover, picking up the single that took him to that magic number. His 49th hundred, tying Tendulkar’s record, and the crowd was electric. He finished unbeaten on 101 off 121 balls, with 10 fours in the mix. India posted 326/5, and Kohli had done his job.


Ravindra Jadeja Rips Through South Africa’s Batting

And if Kohli’s knock was the setup, Ravindra Jadeja’s spell was the punchline. South Africa barely made it past 80, bowled out for 83, all thanks to Jadeja ripping through them with a fifer. India didn’t just secure a victory; they absolutely thrashed South Africa by 243 runs.

Tendulkar reached 49 hundreds in 451 innings whereas Kohli did it in just 277. A proof of his genius in the format.

Happy Birthday Virat Kohli!

So, here we are, a year later, and Kohli’s 36 now, but that knock still feels fresh. It wasn’t just about equaling a record; it was about how he did it—on his birthday, in front of a packed Eden Gardens, cool as ever. Kohli’s always had this knack for making the impossible look routine, and that day was no different.

As he celebrates today, we're reminded of how he’s not just chasing records but setting his own bar. Here’s to the man who’s redefines greatness.

Happy birthday, Virat! Keep showing us how it’s done.