Virat Kohli gets to 49th ODI hundred, equals Sachin Tendulkar's all-time record

Virat Kohli equalled the record for the most number of hundreds by a batter in ODIs, getting to his 49th century against South Africa in Kolkata on Sunday.

Indian batter Virat Kohli equalled the record for the most number of ODI hundreds, getting to his 49th century in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 match against South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday.

The former India captain went on par with Sachin Tendulkar, who scored the same number of centuries in 463 ODIs. Kohli, who was celebrating his 35th birthday on Sunday, reached the mark in the 49th over of India's innings by taking a single off the bowling of Kagiso Rabada.

Sachin Tendulkar congratulated Kohli, "... I hope you go from 49 to 50 and break my record in the next few days.", Tendulkar said on X.

Well played Virat.
It took me 365 days to go from 49 to 50 earlier this year. I hope you go from 49 to 50 and break my record in the next few days.
Congratulations!!#INDvSA pic.twitter.com/PVe4iXfGFk

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) November 5, 2023

Kohli, who was playing his 289th ODI on Sunday, came close to getting to the mark twice in this tournament, but fell for 97 and 88 against New Zealand and Sri Lanka, respectively.

Incidentally, Kohli got to his first ODI hundred against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens in 2009. He also got to his 50th international hundred in a Test match against Sri Lanka on this ground in 2017.

"I'm grateful to god for giving me the chance to play and contribute to the team's success. It's great to get a hundred on my birthday in front of this big crowd at this great venue," Kohli said after his innings on Sunday.

Kohli, who made his international debut in 2008, now has 79 hundreds combined in all three formats of the game and is only behind Tendulkar (100 hundreds) for most number of centuries made by a batter in international cricket.

Kohli eventually finished on 101 not out in 121 balls as India reached 326 for 5 in their 50 overs. The Men in Blue are already through to the semifinals of the tournament and have won all the seven matches that they have played in the tournament so far.

Rohit Sharma's men have one more group stage match to play against Netherlands in Bengaluru on November 12, before the semifinals.

Also read: Happy Birthday King Kohli: A look at the 'Virat' cricketer's spectacular record