Batting maestro Virat Kohli opened up on equalling Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of most ODI centuries with a gritty hundred against South Africa in the ODI World Cup match at Eden Gardens on Sunday. Kohli held his ground strong and played a responsible knock on a tricky batting surface where South Africa were bundled out for just 83 in 27.1 overs.
Kohli took 119 balls to reach his century as he made sure the jam-packed Eden Gardens witnessed a historic moment.
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Kohli came close to equaling Tendulkar’s feat earlier in this World Cup too when he was dismissed for 95 and 88 against New Zealand and Sri Lanka but the Indian run-machine did not disappoint the fans at Eden Gardens on Sunday.
Kohli said it was an emotional moment for him to equal his hero Tendulkar’s record.
“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. It’s a very emotional moment for me, I know where I come from, I know the days where I have been watched him on TV. Just to get that appreciation from him means a lot to me,” Kohli said in the post-match presentation after he was named Player of the Match.
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The batting maestro also talked about scoring a century on his birthday as he asserted that considering the opponent it was a crucial game for the team.
“It was a big game, probably playing the toughest team in the tournament. There was a motivation to do well. Because it happened on my birthday, it becomes special and the people made it more special for me. I did wake up that excitement that today is not just another game. People from the outside look at the game in a bit of a different way” he added.
Kohli further talked about the India’s approach while batting when the conditions started favouring the bowlers as he revealed the message from the dressing room for the players was to bat around him.
“When then openers start well, you feel it is a belter and everyone has to play that way. But as the ball got older, the conditions slowed down drastically. The message was clear, keep batting around me. I was happy from that perspective. Once we got more than 315, we knew that we were above par,” he said.
Kohli has been in incredible form this year and consistently scoring runs, especially in the 50-over format as he suggested that he is enjoying his game and happy to do well for his team.
“I’m enjoying playing cricket, that is more important to me than phases. I’m just happy that God has blessed me with that enjoyment. I’m just happy that I’m being able to do what I have done over the years,” he added.
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