Within the world of Indian cricket, the names of Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli elicit hopes and dreams that span decades of supporters. They have been subjects of countless comparisons, a testament to their combined greatness. However, their impact on Indian sports extends far beyond mere statistics. They have consistently exceeded the expectations of a billion-plus population in their unique ways. Nevertheless, there are certain milestones that demand attention, like the one Virat Kohli achieved at the iconic Eden Gardens during a Cricket World Cup 2023 match against South Africa on Sunday.

At a venue where Sachin Tendulkar delivered many unforgettable performances, Virat Kohli emphatically matched a world record previously held by the cricketing legend. Sachin Tendulkar held the world record for 49 ODI centuries, a mark that Virat Kohli has now reached in 277 innings. He has an excellent chance of breaking this record in the current World Cup of cricket. It’s interesting to remember that Virat Kohli’s first ODI century came at Eden Gardens against Sri Lanka in 2009.

Virat Kohli has long been considered the worthy successor to Sachin Tendulkar in the Indian batting lineup. Over the past decade and a half, he has consistently lived up to these expectations, steering India to victory with his remarkable batting prowess. Sunday’s feat carries added significance for several reasons. Firstly, the attainment of 49 ODI centuries is a milestone that was once deemed unattainable until Sachin Tendulkar accomplished it. Now, two Indian cricket legends have achieved this extraordinary feat. Secondly, this statistical milestone reaffirms that Virat Kohli is unquestionably the rightful heir to Sachin Tendulkar’s legacy.

This century was Virat Kohli’s 79th in international cricket (including 29 in Tests and 1 in T20Is), and he reached the milestone during the 49th over of the match with a single off Kagiso Rabada.

In his own words, Virat Kohli expressed his thoughts on this journey:

“If we talk about cricket, I had never thought of achieving it all, as in where my career is and how God has blessed me with such a career span and performances. I had always dreamt I’d do this, but I never thought things would pan out this way exactly.” He added, “Nobody can plan these things, the way your journey is going, or the way things unfold in front of you. I hadn’t thought that I’d score so many centuries and so many runs in the last 12 years.”

Clearly, Virat Kohli’s journey into the world of cricket is destined to witness many more historic milestones.