'Virat Kohli era': Cricketing legends react to 'King' Kohli's 50 ODI centuries

Virat Kohli crossed Sachin Tendulkar's 673-run mark during his innings against New Zealand in Wankhede on Wednesday. (Image credit: @mufaddal_vohra/X)

As Virat Kohli on Wednesday broke Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most number of runs made by a batter in an ODI World Cup, the cricketing world erupted in celebrations. Leading the pack was the master blaster himself who wrote a lengthy and heartfelt message for Kohli on X.

"The first time I met you in the Indian dressing room, you were pranked by other teammates into touching my feet. I couldn’t stop laughing that day. But soon, you touched my heart with your passion and skill. I am so happy that that young boy has grown into a ‘Virat’ player," Sachin Tendulkar wrote. "I couldn’t be happier that an Indian broke my record. And to do it on the biggest stage - in the World Cup Semi-final - and at my home ground is the icing on the cake."

The first time I met you in the Indian dressing room, you were pranked by other teammates into touching my feet. I couldn’t stop laughing that day. But soon, you touched my heart with your passion and skill. I am so happy that that young boy has grown into a ‘Virat’ player.

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I… pic.twitter.com/KcdoPwgzkX

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) November 15, 2023

The 35-year-old crossed the 673-run mark with a single against New Zealand's Glenn Phillips in Mumbai's Wankhede and appeared to bow to Sachin Tendulkar, who was present in the stands at Mumbai's Wankhede.

Virat Kohli also became the third Indian batter to score more than 600 runs in a single World Cup. This achievement only further strengthened Virat Kohli's case of being one of the greatest players of modern times.

Here's how other cricketing legends have reacted to his incredible achievement:

What a moment! What an ocassion for Virat to create history- 50th ODI 100, and in a World Cup Semi-final with his batting hero Sachin watching from the stands. Absolute champion #InsvsNZ

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— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) November 15, 2023

We live in @imVkohli era . Congratulations emperor.

— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) November 15, 2023

Kohli's century – a cricketing blockbuster with a script that deserves all the applause! 50 -One Day Hundreds! @imVkohli #KohliCenturyBlockbuster #RunApplause

— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) November 15, 2023

Huge congrats to @imVkohli on reaching his 50th ODI What a legend, and what a moment to achieve it – in the semi-final #IndvNZ #Legend pic.twitter.com/0ql2XHPnKY

— Yusuf Pathan (@iamyusufpathan) November 15, 2023

Virat Kohli also became the highest run-getter of this tournament, eclipsing South Africa's Quinton de Kock (591), followed by New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra (565).

On Wednesday, Virat Kohli scored his 72nd ODI half-century and eighth of the ongoing World Cup to record the most 50-plus scores in a World Cup edition, surpassing Tendulkar and Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan, who had scored seven fifties each in the 2003 and 2019 editions respectively. He is also placed in the third spot in the list of most runs in ODIs. Tendulkar with 18,426 runs tops the list, followed by Kumar Sangakkara (14,234). Kohli bettered Ricky Ponting (13,704) to take the third spot.

Virat Kohli is also third in the list of most 50-plus scores in international cricket headed by Tendulkar (264) and followed by Ponting (217). Kohli has 217.