Virat Kohli achieved his 49th one-day international century on his 35th birthday, drawing level with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar's all-time record. However, despite the impressive milestone, Kohli remains cautious about drawing comparisons with his fellow cricket icon.
Kohli reached this century in his 277th inning, far quicker than Tendulkar, who took 438 innings to achieve the same feat. His biographer, Vijay Lokapally, emphasised that "Virat never played for records. They happened as he progressed." Lokapally attributed Kohli's success to his remarkable batting skills and strong work ethic, which led to his impressive career milestones.
Kohli's influence on cricket enthusiasts in India and globally is reminiscent of the adulation once enjoyed by Tendulkar. His number 18 jersey is an omnipresent sight in Indian cricket grounds. With over 26,000 international runs and 79 centuries across three formats, comparisons with Tendulkar are inevitable.
However, Lokapally believes that Kohli and Tendulkar have distinct playing styles and should not be compared. He stated, "Sachin has faced some ferocious bowlers. Virat has dominated too. Sachin is incomparable. If Virat is enjoying his cricket today, it is because of the reputation Indian cricket acquired courtesy of Sachin Tendulkar."
Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif lauded Kohli's ability to score centuries in challenging situations, mentioning, "When Virat Kohli wants a hundred, he gets it. So what if India needed just 169 to win when he came out to bat? Few understand the art of run-making in ODIs like him."
India's last global title came with the 2013 Champions Trophy, and their previous World Cup victory was in 2011 under Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Kohli, who was part of the 2011 World Cup-winning team, spoke about the special emotions of playing in the 50-over showpiece. He noted, "Just the two of us from 2011," referring to his and Ravichandran Ashwin's presence in both World Cups.
Known for his passionate on-field demeanour, Kohli remains one of the most beloved cricketers, with fans often invading the pitch to interact with him.
He is also among India's highest-paid athletes, earning $33.9 million primarily from brand endorsements, according to Sportico's 2022 list.
Kohli went through a lean patch that extended from 2021, failing to reach a century for over 1,000 days. He stepped down as T20 captain in late 2021 and was subsequently removed as the ODI captain. Kohli openly discussed his mental struggles during this challenging period, including his behaviour around his wife, Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma.
However, Kohli made a successful comeback, hitting his first century in over 1,000 days during the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Anushka Sharma, in a birthday post on Instagram, described her husband as "literally exceptional in every role in his life."
