Days after equalling Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 centuries in ODIs, India's run machine Virat Kohli slammed his 50th hundred during the ICC World Cup semi-final against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday. With Tendulkar watching from the stands, Kohli also shattered the master blaster's record for most runs in an ODI World Cup.
Battling cramps and humid weather in Mumbai, Kohli reached his ton by taking a double between long leg and deep midwicket. He achieved the feat with the help of eight boundaries and one six and was seen bowing down to Tendulkar after reaching his 50th century.
Kohli, who looked in sublime touch ever sice he came to the crease following Rohit Sharma's dismissal, went past Tendulkar's 673 runs that the master blaster achieved in the 2003 edition. Kohli also became only the third Indian batter to score 600 plus runs in a single World Cup edition.
Kohli also registered his first-ever century in ICC ODI World Cup knockouts. He also became the first-ever cricketer to register eight fifty-plus scores in a single ODI World Cup.
As the 35-year-old reached the milestone, there was an avalanche of reactions of social media as cricket enthusiasts and fans of 'King' Kohli heaped praise on the Delhi batter.
"A round of applause for the run-machine," BCCI tweeted. "The greatest ever," said an user on X. Another user commented, "First man on the planet to reach 50 centuries. GOAT."
"Selfless The King Kohli break God Of Cricket Sachin Tendulkar most ODI century record," another user said.