Virat Kohli’s monumental achievement of notching up his 49th One Day International (ODI) century at the World Cup 2023 against South Africa has received resounding admiration, particularly from cricketing legend Ricky Ponting. Kohli’s century, a gritty knock of 101 off 120 balls, was a testament to his exceptional skills, especially given the challenging conditions presented by the Eden Gardens’ wicket.
Ricky Ponting, the former Australian captain and a prominent voice on the CWC ’23 commentator panel, offered a unique perspective on Kohli’s remarkable feat. Having played against both cricketing giants, Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar, Ponting’s admiration for both is undeniable. Nevertheless, he bestowed the title of the “absolute best” upon Virat Kohli.
Ponting’s words underscore the magnitude of Kohli’s accomplishment, where he equaled Sachin Tendulkar’s record of most ODI centuries. He emphasized, “There is no doubt he is the absolute best, and I have said that for a long time. He didn’t need to equal Sachin’s record; he doesn’t need to break the record. If you look at his overall batting record, it is incredible. To think that he achieved 49 ODI hundreds and equaled Sachin’s record in 175 fewer innings is unbelievable.”
Kohli’s exceptional performances in the World Cup 2023 have already left a lasting impact, with him ranking second in the list of the tournament’s highest run-scorers, accumulating 543 runs from 8 matches, just seven runs shy of the leader, Quinton de Kock. Ponting remains confident that Kohli’s contribution to the team is far from over, with more key matches ahead.
As India heads into the semi-finals with one more league game to go, the hopes and dreams of cricket enthusiasts worldwide are pinned on Kohli’s continued brilliance. Ricky Ponting noted, “That might be a bit of a monkey off his back. I think he has been working extra hard to equal Sachin’s record. That’s done now, and it has happened at a really good time in the tournament for him. One more game to go, and then they head into the semi-finals. It was an almost perfect day for Virat and a great day for India.”
