ViratKohli’s record equalling 49th ODI century with Sachin Tendulkar and RavindraJadeja’s five-fer fired India to yet another impressive victory in this ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 against South Africa by 243 runs at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday.
South Africa's chase of 327 began shakily as they lost half their side cheaply for 40 runs inside 14 overs as Jadeja (5-33) and Mohammed Shami (2-18) wreaked havoc before the Proteas fell to only their second defeat, dismissed for 83 in 27.1 overs.
Jadeja was the pick of the bowlers, shattering the stumps of three batsmen, while Mohammed Siraj (1-11) and Kuldeep Yadav (2-7) also played their part in the big win.
Kohli's unbeaten 101 contained 10 fours and left him level with Indian great Sachin Tendulkar on 49 one-day international hundreds as he continued his superb form by taking his tally past 500 runs in the tournament.
Both teams have qualified for the semi-finals and Sunday's game was touted as a dress rehearsal for the title clash later this month and it was India who took control early and set up their eighth successive victory.
They elected to bat first after winning the toss and took advantage of some wayward pace bowling by South African bowlers
to post a formidable total of 326/5.
India’s batsman ViratKohli equals Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49th century as India post 327 runs against South Africa in the World Cup at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday.
Kohli, on his 35th birthday, got to the landmark in 119 balls, including 10 fours. In the end, he remained unbeaten on 101 from 121 balls.
It was another day, another ViratKohli masterclass. It is undoubtedly a remarkable achievement in its own merit, yet the frequency with which Kohli orchestrates such innings no longer comes as a surprise to anyone. Perhaps, therein lies the true greatness of the man.
On Sunday, ViratKohli, celebrating his 35th birthday, was the showstopper yet again, as he reached a record-equalling 49th ODI century during the 2023 World Cup match against South Africa. Only Sachin Tendulkar has as many tons in the fifty-over format.
After seven cruising wins, India took on Temba Bavuma's men at the iconic Eden Gardens, with a bid to register their eighth-successive victory in the tournament. In India's last match, Kohli had missed out on a three-figure mark in what could have been a poetic moment in Indian cricketing history; a record-equalling ton in front of Sachin Tendulkar' at the latter's own den, the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Instead, Kohli was dismissed on 82 but India did register a mammoth 302-run win over Sri Lanka.
On Sunday, however, Kohli was at his absolute best as he battled the South African attack in a gritty century in Kolkata. It was in the 49th over against KagisoRabada where Kohli eventually ended the wait for the iconic 49th; as a single off his 119th delivery in the innings secured his record-equalling century. His innings featured 10 fours with no six. It was a defining moment for Kohli in that he reached the mark on his 36th birthday in an important World Cup clash.
This was Kohli's second century in the ongoing World Cup edition – in addition to five fifties – and third overall (in tournament's history). His 49th ODI ton was also his 79th hundred in international cricket; Kohli remains 21 shy of equalling Tendulkar (100 centuries) in that regard.
