Sachin Tendulkar hails Virat Kohli for record breaking 50th ODI century after ton against New Zealand

India's legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar congratulated Virat Kohli after he broke his ODI century record at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in the ICC World Cup semifinals.

Recalling the first day when he met Virat in the dressing room Sachin wrote, "The first time I met you in the Indian dressing room, you were pranked by other teammates into touching my feet. I couldn’t stop laughing that day. But soon, you touched my heart with your passion and skill. I am so happy that that young boy has grown into a ‘Virat’ player".

Writing on X, formely known as Twitter Sachin expressed his happiness as he always wanted an Indian player to break his cricket records. "I couldn’t be happier that an Indian broke my record. And to do it on the biggest stage - in the World Cup Semi-final - and at my home ground is the icing on the cake," he wrote.

Kohli raised his arms aloft then sank to his knees and bowed to the fans with his helmet off after reaching three figures in the semifinal match against New Zealand at the Wankhede stadium. He was 100 not out after facing 106 balls in a virtually chanceless innings to that point.

The 50-year-old Tendulkar, the highest run-scorer in ODI and test cricket, was in the crowd in Mumbai to see the latest landmark reached by Kohli, who was eventually dismissed for 117 and applauded off the field by India's fans.

The 35-year-old Kohli, nicknamed “The King” in India and arguably the world’s most famous cricketer, was playing his 279th innings in his 291st ODI after making his debut in the 50-over format in 2008.

It was his third hundred at this World Cup, which he is making his own. He finished the group stage as the top run-scorer in the tournament with 594 and averaging exactly 99.