Virat Kohli equals Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time record with 49th ODI ton during India-South Africa World Cup match

Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten century on his 35th birthday on Sunday as India faced South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in their 2023 World Cup match. This was Kohli’s 49th ODI century, equalling Sachin Tendulkar’s feat in the 50-over format. Earlier, India won the toss and opted to bat first. Captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill forged a 60-run stand for the first wicket before being caught by Temba Bavuma at mid-off, off Kagiso Rabada’s bowling in the sixth over. Kohli then came into bat at number three, and helped India steady the ship with Shubman Gill, before Gill was dismissed for 23 by Keshav Maharaj in the 11th over. Kohli would collect his first boundary in the eighth over, with a punch between extra-cover and mid-off for four off Kagiso Rabada’s ball. Kohli would once again go onto punish Rabada in the 10th over, this time by hitting two consecutive fours. However, Kohli would find a hard time dealing with Keshav Maharaj. In the 21st over, Kohli survived a caught behind dismissal off Keshav Maharaj. It was a tossed up delivery from Maharaj on the middle, Kohli played the forward defence but it went past the outside edge. Maharaj was not convinced with this, and after a chat with Bavuma, he went for the review, but to no avail. Seven overs later, Kohli would then go onto get to his fifty with a single off Maharaj, by tapping towards long-off. Kohli would then go onto get to his century in 119 balls, with a single off Kagiso Rabada in the 49th over.