Virat Kohli says he aspired to play for India after watching Sachin Tendulkar bat so equaling to his record his an emotional moment for him.
Virat Kohli in an interview to BCCI.Tv has admitted that for him Sachin Tendulkar is always going to be a “Number one” cricketer. Virat Kohli celebrated his 35th birthday in style as he hit a record-equaling 49th ODI hundred to help India smash South Africa by 243 runs at the Cricket World Cup on Sunday.
Kohli scored 101 not out off 121 balls — to move level in the all-time ODI ton table with India batting great Sachin Tendulkar.
“Quite an emotional thing for me. I mean, I grew up idolizing him, I started to aspire to play for India watching him play and just to equal his record in ODIs is a surreal moment for me,” said Kohli on equaling Tendulkar’s record.
“I never thought in my wildest dreams that I’ll get here, so I just feel blessed and grateful. And as I said in the post-match, for me, he’s always going to be number one, regardless of whatever happens.
“But I’m just happy that my journey has come so far that I’ve been able to make it till here and to be able to win games for my country like he did,” he said.
From the city of Joy 🌆
On his 35th, he got to his 4⃣9⃣th ODI ton 🔝
Surreal and RAW emotions: “𝙊𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙞𝙘” with man of the moment – Virat Kohli 👌👌#TeamIndia | #CWC23 | #MenInBlue | #INDvSA
WATCH 🎥🔽 – By @28anand
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 6, 2023
Sachin Tendulkar reacted to to Kohli’s feat, and had posted on X, “Well played Virat. It took me 365 days to go from 49 to 50 earlier this year. I hope you go from 49 to 50 and break my record in the next few days.”
On Sachin’s message, Virat said: “I aspire to do the same thing because if I do that then, that means that we have good chance of winning. So I would love to do it a few more times in this tournament, and especially the big ones, the semis and the finals. so yeah, fingers crossed. Hopefully I can do that.”
Virat also revealed that he is not someone, who gets overexcited about his birthday but he did felt good to give a return gift to the fans.
“Well, I’m much happier to be in this position where I’m not receiving gifts, but rather I play well and I make everyone else happy because it gets a little too much to be able to take wishes and gifts on my birthday.
“I’ve never quite been the guy, who gets very excited for my birthday, so I’m just happy I was able to play this way. We won and everyone got happy. A return gift from me on my birthday.”
Source:indianexpress.com