Sachin Tendulkar wishes Virat Kohli after batter scores his 49th ODI century during ODI World Cup 2023 clash against South Africa

India vs South Africa in the ODI World Cup 2023, is currently underway at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Virat Kohli is celebrating his birthday on the very same day. He achieved another milestone during the game as he tied with great Sachin Tendulkar's 49th ODI century record. The batter has been in great form in the tournament and has been trying to achieve the milestone for the last three matches but achieved it on his special day. 

The coincidence is that Kohli scored his first ODI century in the same venue and his 49th in the same venue. The entire cricket fraternity has wished the star batter's birthday ahead of the game. Tendulkar scored his 49th hundred in his 451st ODI innings, and Kohli got there in just his 277th innings in his 289th match. The batter after his hundred is the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament. 

He also joins the list of batters who had previously scored a hundred on their birthday and became the first Indian batter to score a century on his birthday. Kohli batted till the end and was unbeaten as well. 

Kohli achieves another milestone

The former India skipper has scored more than 13,000 runs in the format which also includes 70 half-centuries. Kohli scored 101 runs off 126 balls hitting 10 fours. India has posted a total of 326 runs against the Proteas. He achieved another milestone in the previous game against Sri Lanka where he became the first batter to score 1000 runs 8 times in a calendar year. Previously it was held by Sachin Tendulkar who scored it 7 times. 

After the innings, Sachin replied to his innings saying, "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!!." Both batters have been the face of Indian Cricket for different decades. Kohli has now 543 runs in 8 innings with an average of 108.60.