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Virender Sehwag (Source: Twitter)
With the 2023 ODI World Cup set to begin on October 5, former India opener Virender Sehwag has made a special wish for batting stalwart Virat Kohli. Sehwag, who picked India as one of the prime contenders to win the tournament, said Kohli would receive a similar grant reception to Sachin Tendulkar after India lifted their second title in the 2011 World Cup.
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12 years ago, India became the first country to win the ODI World Cup on home soil under the leadership of MS Dhoni. The Men in Blue defeated Sri Lanka in the final and celebrated the historic achievement by taking a lap of honour in front of thousands of supporters at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. As a mark of respect and admiration for legendary cricketer Sachin, Kohli and some others lifted him on their shoulders.
Sehwag, who was instrumental in India's 2011 World Cup winning campaign, expressed his desire to see Kohli being carried on the shoulders of the players after their victory in the upcoming event. The 44-year-old hopes that the talisman of Indian cricket will also have a great outing, smashing centuries and ending up the leading run-scorer.
“Cheeku (Kohli) didn’t score a single century in the 2019 World Cup, this year I hope he scores many hundreds and ends up as the leading run-scorer in the tournament. Then, I want him to be carried on the shoulders and get a round of the ground."
Kohli eyes to break Sachin Tendulkar's massive record
The former Indian captain Kohli is undoubtedly one of the greatest batters of this generation. Scoring more than 13000 runs in ODIs, the 34-year-old is just two centuries away from equalling Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI tons. With the kind of form he is currently in, the right-hander is expected to breach the 50-hundred mark in the upcoming World Cup.
Kohli, who has played in three World Cups so far, has amassed more than 1000 runs in the marquee event and is the second-highest run-scorer for India, behind Sachin Tendulkar (2278). He has smashed six half-centuries and two centuries in the tournament. There were no centuries from Kohli's bat in the 2019 edition, but he set the record of five consecutive half-centuries in a single World Cup.