'Player Who Lifted Sachin Tendulkar is Now Standing Shoulder-to-shoulder With Him': Irfan Pathan Sums Up Virat Kohli's Journey to 49th ODI Century

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Irfan Pathan, who was in the commentary box during the historic moment, summed up Virat Kohli's journey to equal Sachin Tendulkar's tally brilliantly.

Virat Kohli scripted history on Sunday with his 49th ODI century against South Africa in the league stage of the ODI World Cup 2023 at Eden Gardens. Kohli equalled the record of batting great Sachin Tendulkar who finished his illustrious career with record most 49th ODI centuries.

Kohli’s handy century came in 119 balls comprising ten boundaries. He scored his 49th hundred in only his 277th ODI innings as he equalled Tendulkar’s record in 17 innings less.

Irfan Pathan, who was in the commentary box during the historic moment, summed up Kohli’s journey to equal Tendulkar’s tally brilliantly.

“It’s a very big moment for Virat Kohli and Indian cricket team fans. It’s a World Cup century. The player who lifted Sachin Tendulkar on his shoulders and took a lap of the ground is now standing shoulder-to-shoulder with him,” Pathan said during commentary after Kohli took a single to complete his century and equalled Tendulkar’s tally.

Sachin paaji ko Kandhe pe uthane se kandhe se kandha milake chalne wala shandaar safar @imVkohli ka. Many congratulations chase master pic.twitter.com/ijerw9iqcQ— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) November 5, 2023

It was the 49th over when Kohli gently pushed Kagiso Rabada for a single. It came off 119 balls with 10 fours.

Kohli came close to equaling Tendulkar’s feat earlier in this World Cup too whe he was dismissed for 95 and 88 against New Zealand and Sri Lanka but the Indian run-machine did not disappoint the fans at Eden Gardens on Sunday.

It was an ideal setting for Kohli to equal his idol, the iconic Tendulkar’s record on his 35th birthday after missing the magic three-figure mark earlier in the showpiece.

Kohli played with a lot of discipline on a surface where there was assistance for the spinners on the slow-paced Eden track.

He tackled the spinners cautiously and held one end to make sure India post a formidable 326/5 in 50 overs.

This is also the first time that Kohli has surpassed the 500-run mark in an ODI World Cup and the first time that the 35-year-old has scored two centuries in a single edition of the ODI World Cup.

Kohli is currently second on the list of most runs in the ongoing edition of the World Cup with 543 runs and he is just two runs short of table-topper Quinton de Kock.