At Eden Gardens, Virat Kohli once paid homage to Sachin Tendulkar by bowing down after scoring a fifty in a World T20 match against Pakistan in 2016. Five years later, continuing his tradition of honoring the cricket legend, Kohli expressed, “I have seen Sachin paaji do that for India for years together and seen how people shout for him. I have gotten a chance to do it in front of him, and he is celebrating. I cannot explain that feeling as a youngster who has grown up playing cricket because of him. To be able to do it in front of him and give him happiness; I am very grateful for it, and it is a very emotional moment.”
Seven years later, at another World Cup, Kohli, who had spent the past decade downplaying comparisons with the Little Master, found himself standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Tendulkar. With composure, he guided a Kagiso Rabada delivery to the covers, bringing up his century. This achievement placed him on par with Tendulkar’s record of 49 centuries in 451 ODI innings, but Kohli achieved this milestone in his 277th innings.
In contrast to Tendulkar, whose batting style underwent significant changes over 25 years, Kohli’s evolution as a batsman took a different route. While he undoubtedly matured, his success lies in his ability to maintain a high level of performance without altering his game. When it comes to ODIs, Kohli’s blueprint is well-established, from his inaugural century at Eden Gardens in 2009 to his most recent one on Sunday, showcasing remarkable consistency.
Mention the numbers 134, 141, 143, 163*, 175, 186*, 200 to any cricket fan, and they can recall the matches, opponents, and contexts of Tendulkar’s centuries. However, if you mention 107, 118, 128*, 100*, 123, 139*, 154*, 157*, 138 related to Kohli’s centuries, many cricket enthusiasts would struggle to identify the opposition or specific details. This isn’t a criticism of Kohli; rather, it reflects how he has methodically mastered the art of scoring centuries in ODIs. Tendulkar made centuries a cause for celebration, whereas Kohli has normalized this remarkable achievement.
