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ODI world cup 2023 Cricket

'Very humble statement from King' - Fans react to Virat Kohli's post-match speech on equalling Sachin Tendulkar's world record of 49 ODI hundreds

Kohli was awarded the Player of the Match for his sensational century that helped India win the match by 243 runs.

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Mathew K
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Virat Kohli & Sachin Tendulkar (Source: Twitter)

Virat Kohli & Sachin Tendulkar (Source: Twitter)

Virat Kohli celebrated his 35th birthday with a sensational hundred against South Africa in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Moreover, Team India cemented their top spot in the points table with a dominant 243-run victory. Rohit Sharma's quick-fire knock, Kohli and Shreyas Iyer's 130+ partnership, followed by the Indian pacers' fiery start and Ravindra Jadeja's fifer - the Men in Blue were on a roll at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. 

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Kohli was awarded the Player of the Match for his scintillating knock on a difficult pitch to bat on. The No. 3 batter notched up the triple-digit score with a single off Kagiso Rabada in the 49th over. The crowd erupted in joy while giving a standing ovation for the 'King'. He has achieved a record that no one would have thought possible when the great man set it all those years ago.

Social media was flooded with appreciation but the one that hooked the attention was the post of the 'God of Cricket'. As soon as Kohli completed the milestone, Tendulkar posted a heartfelt message on his X handle. The 50-year-old wished the Delhi lad to complete a half-century of ODI tons in the next few days. The tweet quickly went viral on social media. 

"Well played Virat. It took me 365 days to go from 49 to 50 earlier this year. I hope you go from 49 to 50 and break my record in the next few days. Congratulations!!," the 50-year-old wrote.  

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After India's dominant win over South Africa, Kohli was asked how he felt when he saw Tendulkar's appreciation. The batting stalwart gave a heartwarming response saying it was a very emotional moment to match his hero's record.

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"I’m just happy that I’m being able to do what I have done over all these years. It is all too much for me to take in now, to equal my hero’s record is something special for me. He is perfection when it comes to batting. I will never be as good as him, he is my hero. It’s a very emotional moment for me. I know where I come from, I know the days I have watched him on TV. Just to get that appreciation from him means a lot to me," Kohli said in the post-match presentation. 

Here's how fans reacted to Virat Kohli's statement: 

India Virat Kohli Sachin Tendulkar featured South Africa ODI World Cup 2023