Slightly over a decade since that day, Virat discovered himself on a near-similar pedestal as batting legend Tendulkar, minus the World Cup trophy in his arms, which might have accomplished the image. Virat was 23 when India, led by Dhoni, lifted the World Cup at house 12 years in the past. India waited 28 years because the maiden triumph beneath Kapil Dev in 1983 to win one other ODI World Cup on that momentous evening. However the identical could not be achieved in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
A younger Virat, whereas sharing the dressing room with the legends in the course of the 2011 World Cup, managed to select brains of his idol Tendulkar and senior execs like Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan. What Tendulkar was to Virat then, Virat is to the children within the present Indian workforce.
Gamers like Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer and Mohammed Siraj all look as much as him.
And on the just-concluded ODI World Cup, he added to his legacy {that a} era of cricketers will look to emulate.
ICC World Cup 2023: Virat Kohli awarded man of the event for 765 runs, 3 Centuries | IND vs AUS
With 765 runs in 11 matches, together with the record-breaking fiftieth ODI century, Virat undoubtedly made this World Cup his personal. The trophy would have been the icing on the cake, however Australia proved to be the higher workforce on Sunday, successful their sixth title.
Three centuries and 6 half centuries – that is how Virat stamped his authority within the thirteenth version of the quadrennial occasion and was deservingly named ‘Participant of the Event’.
However a dream remained unfulfilled for Virat — lifting the coveted trophy and going a step forward of Tendulkar by turning into a double ODI World Cup-winner.
Simply after the medal distribution ceremony, Virat coated his face with a cap and quietly made his approach in direction of the dressing room — hiding a sea of feelings on his face and the lump in his throat
Reuters Photograph
BIRTHDAY-BOY VIRAT’S SPECIAL 49
Forward of the World Cup, the 35-year-old run-machine performed 5 matches within the Asia Cup and notched up a century, his forty seventh in ODIs, towards arch-rivals Pakistan when he scored an excellent 122 not out off 94 balls.
Oozing with confidence and willpower, Virat took his sport to a unique stage within the World Cup. He seemed calm and composed, and scored 85 runs in India’s opening match towards Australia. He missed on a century, however bailed the workforce out, together with KL Rahul, to make sure the hosts began their marketing campaign on a successful be aware.
He did not have to attend longer to equal his childhood hero Tendulkar’s file of 49 ODI centuries.
The forty eighth ton got here in Pune, when Virat got here up with a spectacular 103 not out towards Bangladesh. Within the workforce’s penultimate league match towards South Africa, Virat smashed 101 not out off 121 balls on his birthday to silence his critics. The tally of his ODI tons reached 49, equal to Tendulkar’s.
The birthday-boy eliminated his helmet, raised his bat and seemed as much as the sky to have a good time the milestone. That was an ideal birthday present for Virat, from Virat.
THE fiftieth, AND THE BOW
“Nicely performed Virat. It took me one year to go from 49 to 50 earlier this yr. I hope you go from 49 to 50 and break my file within the subsequent few days. Congratulations” – this was the message Tendulkar posted simply after Virat’s record-equalling 49 centuries.
The 35-year-old had the stage set. Time was apt, the event massive and Virat did it in type.
Within the semifinal vs New Zealand, he scored his fiftieth ODI century. He broke Tendulkar’s file in entrance of the grasp at his house floor and in entrance of a jam-packed and roaring Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Virat received down on his knees and soaked within the applause from the followers. He then stood up and bowed down in direction of the stand the place Tendulkar was sitting. Sachin too stood up and applauded Virat from the stands. It was some of the iconic moments of this World Cup.
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VIRAT’S WORLD CUP DOMINATION
With three centuries and 6 fifties, Virat signed off the event as main run-scorer.
In 11 matches, he scored 765 runs at an astonishing common of 95.62, turning into the batter with most runs in a single version of the ODI World Cup.
The Indian run-machine surpassed the tally of 673 runs scored by a single batter within the 2003 World Cup. Once more, it was a file that stood within the title of his idol, Tendulkar.
