Virat Kohli on going level with Sachin Tendulkar: ‘Huge honour to equal my hero’s record’

India batter Virat Kohli was over the moon following his century in the 2023 World Cup match against South Africa on Sunday,  saying that it was a :huge honour” for him to equal Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI tons.

World Cup 2023: News | Schedule | Results | Points table

Kohli scored an unbeaten 101 to take India to 326/5 against the Proteas after opting to bat, and eventually won the Player of the Match award for his batting heroics.

South Africa crumbled to 83 in 27.1 overs in their chase, with Ravindra Jadeja collecting a five-fer.

Tendulkar had posted a congratulatory message on the micro-blogging platform ‘X’, adding that he hoped that one day, Kohli would break his record of 49 ODI tons.

“Tendulkar’s tweet is quite special. It’s all too much to take in for now. It’s a huge honour to equal my hero’s record. He’s perfection with the bat. It’s an emotional moment. I know the days I come from, I know the days I have watched him on TV. To receive appreciation from him means a lot to me,” Kohli said after receiving the Player of the Match award.

After breaking Tendulkar’s record, Kohli said that it was a “stuff of dreams”.

“Every opportunity to play for India is big one for me. To be able to do that on my birthday, in front of the whole crowd, it’s stuff of dreams, something that as a child you wish had happened,” the Delhi cricketer had earlier said.

Kohli termed South Africa as the “toughest team” in the World Cup. “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 with that excitement that today is not just another game,” added Kohli, who turned 35 on Sunday.

Kohli was well aware of the match situation and the message from the team management was clear to him. “Message from the management was for me to bat deep, I was happy from that perspective. We knew we were above par when around 315. I enjoy playing cricket again which is more important now and that I’m able to contribute for the team all over again,” said the right-handed batter.