Throwback: When a young Virat Kohli watched Sachin Tendulkar score 49th ton from the dugout

Virat Kohli brought up his 49th ODI century against Temba Bavuma's South Africa at the World Cup 2023, as a jubilant Eden Gardens crowd bore witness to the occasion

Virat Kohli on the brink of history

History has been made as promised at Kolkata's Eden Gardens as Virat Kohli, the totem of modern-day Indian cricket, equals Sachin Tendulkar's stellar record of 49 ODI centuries. The wily batter waded through some tricky batting conditions and equally competent bowling by South Africans to bring up his ton in front of a jubilant crowd.

The knock had Virat Kohli's quintessence of grit and tenacity written all over it and though it might not have been his most fluent or elegant one, it fulfilled the need of the hour by all means. And it certainly made things all the more special for everyone around that he reached the landmark on his 35th birthday.

And as expected, congratulatory messages are pouring in from all corners of the world and social media is completely abuzz with emotions and celebrations. Fans, cricket aficionados and former cricketers alike have declared their adulation for Virat Kohli with their social media posts and one such emotional outpour came in the form of a reminder, which revealed just how far he has come in the last decade or so.

Also Read: Netizens took to social media to wish the Indian batter Virat Kohli on his 35th birthday.

A short while ago, as soon as Virat Kohli struck the three-figure mark, a social media user shared a photo of Kohli watching Sachin Tendulkar score his 49th hundred more than 11 years ago. Kohli was part of that match against Bangladesh, mind you, and had even made an impressive 66 but once he departed, the Little Master would reach his milestone 100th international hundred.

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Indeed, it is such an endearing throwback to understand that the same young kid has striven unimaginably hard through the years to reach the same pedestal that his idol stands on. Also, Virat Kohli matches Sachin Tendulkar's ODI record in considerably fewer innings - the latter took 451 innings against Kohli's 277! - to prove that he has brought about a radical change in the way white-ball cricket is played. On top of that, his influence with regard to fitness in Indian cricket can never, ever, be overlooked.

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