Virat Kohli Opens Up On His 121-Ball 101*, Says 'Conditions Slowed Down Drastically'

Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli equalled his batting idol Sachin Tendular's 49 ODI centuries record against South Africa on his 35th birthday in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 clash at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday. He credited his unbeaten 101-run knock to the spectators as they made the moment 'more special' for him.

India continued their winning streak in the competition and won their eighth consecutive match to finish the league stage at the top of the table. India thumped South Africa by 243 runs as Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj bagged five and three wickets respectively to all out Proteas for 83 in 27.1 overs.

Kohli was criticised for a slow knock but the batter claimed that the pitch changed 'drastically' and the ball came slow on the bat as it turned old.

After the electric start from Rohit Sharma (40 off 24 balls) and Shubman Gill (23 off 24 balls), Kohli steered the innings and remained unbeaten with 121-ball 101* to guide the side to 326/5 in 50 overs.

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"People from the outside look at the game in a bit of a different way. When the openers start well, it feels it is a belter and everyone has to play that way. But as the ball got older, the conditions slowed down drastically. The message was clear, keep batting around me. I was happy from that perspective. Once we got more than 315, we knew that we were above par," Kohli said in the post-match presentation.

"It was a big game, probably playing the toughest team in the tournament. There was a motivation to do well. Because it happened on my birthday, it becomes special and the people made it more special for me. I did wake up with that excitement that today is not just another game," he added.

On equalling Tendulkar's 49 ODI centuries record, Kohli said it was an emotional moment for him to match his hero's record and called the veteran batter 'perfection' in batting.

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"I’m enjoying myself, playing cricket all over again, that is more important to me than phases. I’m just happy that God has blessed me with that enjoyment. I’m just happy that I’m being able to do what I have done over all these years," Kohli said.

"It is all too much for me to take in now, to equal my hero’s record is something special for me. He is perfection when it comes to batting. It’s a very emotional moment for me. I know where I come from, I know the days I have watched him on TV. Just to get that appreciation from him means a lot to me," he added.

Defending 327, Ravindra Jadeja clinched 5-33 in his nine overs while Mohamed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav bagged two scalps each to wrap South Africa's innings inside 28 overs.