When Virat Kohli stepped out to replace Rohit Sharma in the middle of the Eden Gardens, spectators all around the world chanted and posted “Happy Birthday Kohli”. And later on in the innings, it was the Birthday boy who equalled his own idol’s record of most ODI centuries.
All of it (Kohli’s 49th Hundred) was something the 35-year-old had been looking for since the match against New Zealand. At Dharamshala that day, his record Ton got delayed by just 5 runs. Then after a duck at Lucknow, Kohli missed out of his 49th against Sri-Lanka at Wankhede by 12 runs.
https://twitter.com/Musical_Ashaa/status/1721140570931032384
But today it was clear that everything had a reason. Whether Kohli handing out a catch to Matt Henry or Pathum Nissanka’s easy catch at covers, all of it had a very special consequence. 14-years ago, Kohli took off his helmet for the first time at the same venue he emulated Sachin Tendulkar.
The year was 2009 and a 21-year-old Virat Kohli scored the first of his 49 ODI centuries till date. He scored 107 against Sri-Lanka and today he scored 6 runs less (101*) against South Africa. It was Kohli’s 6th ODI Ton against South Africa and his 2nd at Kolkata.
The atmosphere at the Eden Gardens when King Kohli completed his 49th century.
– Craze is simply unmatchable!pic.twitter.com/FgUasxEybJ
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 5, 2023
Today his inning was all about patience as he held himself steady in quite a bit of a slow track. That was possibly because he didn’t want to rush towards the elusive 49th Ton that denied him from getting it twice in this World Cup.
Hotstar viewership peaked at 4.4cr when King Kohli reached his century.
– The highest ever in digital streaming media history…!!! pic.twitter.com/7Hm7rPvmIU
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 5, 2023
In comparison Rohit (40 off 24), Iyer (77 off 87), Surya (22 off 14) and Jadeja (29* off 15) played faster than Kohli. Virat completed his Century in 119 balls and even if he played deliberately for his Century, all Indian fans enjoyed and appreciated him from doing so.
He became the 7th batter in ODI cricket to score a Century on Birthday and 3rd Indian overall to do so after Vinod Kamble and Sachin Tendulkar in 1993 & 1998.
On the back of his 101 off 121, India have set up a target of 327 to South Africa whose lethalness while chasing has been a subject of concern.
