“Perfect picture” feels Kohli after 50th ODI ton

As if becoming the most prolific ODI centurion in history wasn’t enough, Virat Kohli set a World Cup semifinal record with his 50th century at the famous Wankhede Stadium, with his family and boyhood hero applauding from the stands, reports Live Cricket Score.

The 35-year-old, who now has one more ODI hundred than Tendulkar, compared his historic achievement to creating “the perfect picture.”

“As I have stated, it’s the stuff of dreams. Anushka [Sharma, his wife] was sitting right there, and Sachin Paaji was in the stands. It’s difficult for me to express, but if I could paint the perfect picture, I’d want this to be the picture. My life partner, the person I adore, is seated there. He’s sitting there, my hero. “And you know, I was able to get to fifty [ODI hundreds] in front of all of them and all of these fans in the Wankhede, a historic venue,” Kohli remarked, visibly moved after reaching 117 off 113 against New Zealand. 

“Sachin Tendulkar, the great man, just congratulated me.” It’s like a nightmare. It feels strange and too fantastic to be true. “I never thought I’d be here so many times in my career just to help the team,” he continued.

Tendulkar, too, expressed his best wishes on social media.

“I’m overjoyed that an Indian smashed my record. And to do it on the highest platform – a World Cup semifinal at my home stadium – is the cherry on top,” Tendulkar remarked. Kohli saluted him after reaching the President’s Box, where several superstars, including football legend David Beckham, joined him.