In a TV chat with anchor Gaurav Kapur six years ago, Virat Kohli recollected how, in the 2011 World Cup final, he came out to bat with the Wankhede completely silenced because Sachin Tendulkar had just been dismissed.
On Wednesday, Kohli was the reason the Wankhede roared in this World Cup semi-final, with his hero Tendulkar in the stands.
Kohli equalled Tendulkar’s record 49 ODI centuries at Eden Gardens on November 5, and on Wednesday he went one past “the great man”. “All this for me feels like a dream, it is surreal. It’s too good to be true,” Kohli said during the mid-innings break.
Tendulkar wasn’t far behind, penning a heartfelt message.
“The first time I met you in the Indian dressing room, you were pranked by other teammates into touching my feet. I couldn’t stop laughing that day. But soon, you touched my heart with your passion and skill. I am so happy that that young boy has grown into a ‘Virat’ player.
“I couldn’t be happier that an Indian broke my record. And to do it on the biggest stage — in the World Cup Semi-final — and at my home ground is the icing on the cake,” Tendulkar wrote on X.
Sachin Tendulkar greets former football superstar David Beckham at the Wankhede, before the start of the semi-final match on Wednesday. Having watched Virat Kohli’s artistry, the Englishman said he was glad to witness “a piece of history”. “It’s just a real pleasure to actually be in this stadium and witness a piece of history. You know obviously I’ve spent some time today with Sachin (Tendulkar) and I know what he achieved in this stadium and I know what he achieved for his country and the sport. But then to see Virat do it today, it is truly incredible,” Beckham said. PTI photo
In November 2017, Kohli on Kapur’s YouTube show Breakfast With Champions spoke about walking in to bat with his idol (Tendulkar) walking out. “I felt like either the fans forgot that we were playing in India or they thought that I am the No.11 batsman, with no hope left,” Kohli recounted with a chuckle. “No one was cheering. Someone just say ‘Yay’... I did look up a few times and said ‘please, anyone’.”
There was definitely no dearth of cheers on Wednesday, with supporters and celebrities alike — including David Beckham — standing up to applaud Kohli’s feat.
At Eden Gardens, Sourav Ganguly said: “Truly a fantastic innings... Outstanding... 50 ODI hundreds is simply phenomenal. It will take a lot of effort to beat what he has achieved.”
Among those spreading cheer on social media were Wasim Akram. “We live in @imVkohli era. Congratulations emperor,” he tweeted.
VVS Laxman wrote: “What a sense of occasion, what a knock! Another special hundred from a man who has made a habit of it at the World Cup. Virat Kohli is now in a league of one, going past the great Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI tons. To do it in the World Cup semis is extra special. Take a bow, champion!”
