Virat Kohli hits 49th ODI ton; Equals Sachin Tendulkar's record for most ODI centuries

Virat Kohli scored 101 runs off 121 balls with 10 fours at Eden Gardens against South Africa.

India’s chase master has almost chased down another batting record set by Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar in ODIs. Virat Kohli has smashed his 49th ODI ton to equal Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of most ODI centuries. Virat has played a magnificent innings to score a century against South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Virat Kohli took 118 balls to hunt down Sachin’s record in ODI cricket. 

Virat Kohli has also smashed his 79th International and took a stride forward towards another unthinkable record of 100 international centuries. Sachin Tendulkar currently holds the record for the most centuries in international cricket. He scored a total of 100 (51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs) centuries in his 24-year-long career. Virat Kohli is second with 79 (29 in Tests, 49 in ODIs, and 1 in T20I) hundreds in his 15-year-long cricket career so far. 

Virat Kohli just one away from record-breaking '50'

Virat Kohli is also celebrating his 35th birthday on Sunday and there was no better day to equal the master in ODIs. Virat is just one century away from becoming the leading batter with the most number of centuries and he will be having a great opportunity to go past Sachin Tendulkar in this World Cup only. Virat Kohli smashed his first-ever ODI century at the same venue at Eden Gardens against Sri Lanka in December 2009. 

This was Virat’s 4th century in the World Cup and second in the ongoing World Cup 2023. He broke a few other records as well against South Africa at Eden Gardens. Kohli overtook Kumar Sangakkara to become 3rd leading run-scorer in the World Cup. Former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara had 1532 runs in the World Cup and now after his century knock, Virat Kohli left behind Sanga with 1573 runs in 34 innings. 

India have posted 326 runs at Eden Gardens to defend their unbeaten run in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. The pitch has become a little slower and South African batters will find it a bit hard to chase the Indian total. Virat Kohli was the leading run-scorer for India with an unbeaten 101 runs in 121 balls with only 10 fours in his innings. He added 134 runs for the 3rd wicket with Shreyas Iyer, who also played a magnificent knock of 77 runs.