Virat Kohli must be experiencing a sense of considerable alleviation after bestowing upon the entire nation precisely what they yearned for the most—a record-matching 49th ODI century against South Africa at the World Cup 2023. Kohli’s century, a notable knock of 101 from 120 deliveries, emerged as one of the most tenacious performances in his illustrious career, navigating the challenges posed by a turning and gripping Eden Gardens surface. Consequently, as he reached this landmark, Kohli’s innings garnered admiration from all quarters, including the esteemed Ricky Ponting. The former Australia captain, a refreshing addition to the CWC ’23 commentator panel, added a breath of fresh air, expressing commendation from the commentary box to the on-field prowess of one of the cricketing world’s GOATs.
In the realm where the game recognizes game, Ponting’s response to Kohli matching Master Blaster’s record of most ODI hundreds takes precedence. As one of the select few to face both Indian maestros, Ponting operated at the pinnacle of his prowess in encounters with Tendulkar, and likewise, he displayed unwavering strength against Kohli in the concluding years of his illustrious career. Bearing witness to these two legends up close, Ponting, while harboring profound admiration for Sachin, unequivocally bestowed his accolade of the ‘absolute best’ upon Virat.
“There is unquestionably no doubt that he stands as the absolute best, and I have asserted this sentiment for an extensive period. He did not merely need to equate Sachin’s record; breaking the record wasn’t a necessity either. If you scrutinize his comprehensive batting record, it is nothing short of extraordinary. The notion that he acquired 49 ODI centuries, matching Sachin, and accomplishing this feat in 175 fewer innings is nothing short of incredulous,” Ponting remarked on Kohli’s innings during an interaction with the ICC.
While Kohli has already set the World Cup ablaze with a captivating series of innings, securing the second position in the list of the tournament’s highest run-scorers with 543 runs from eight matches—merely 7 runs adrift of the leader Quinton de Kock—Ponting envisions that Kohli’s cricketing saga is far from its conclusion. With another league game on the horizon in a week’s time, India aspires to witness at least two more exceptional innings from Kohli in the semifinal and final, turning their and others’ dreams of winning the World Cup into reality.
“That might indeed signify a momentous weight lifted off his shoulders. I believe he exerted additional effort to equal Sachin’s record. That task is now accomplished, and it transpired at a remarkably opportune juncture in the tournament. With one more game remaining before heading into the semifinals, it constituted an almost flawless day for Virat and an outstanding day for India,” the Australian great conveyed.
