WATCH- Virat Kohli pays homage to Sachin Tendulkar with emotional gesture after achieving historic milestone

In a feat that will forever be etched in the annals of cricketing history, Virat Kohli today became the first player to score 50 ODI centuries, further solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest batsmen the sport has ever seen. He reached the milestone in the ongoing ODI World Cup semi-final between India and New Zealand at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Kohli scored a magnificent 117 off 113 deliveries with the help of two sixes and nine boundaries. He ran a lot of singles and double which even had him struggling with cramps at one point in time. He shared s 93-run stand with Shubman Gill and a 163-run partnership with local boy Shreyas Iyer who also scored a century. India eventually went on to score 397 in their allotted 50 overs.

Kohli's special celebration

Virat Kohli Bowing Down To Sachin Tendulkar After Scoring 50th Int Ton🙌👑 #INDvsNZ #ViratKohli𓃵 #SachinTendulkar #Semifinal pic.twitter.com/WgiCpH2Him

— Dev Basrani (@MSDIAN___DEV) November 15, 2023

Kohli reached his 50th century with a double in the 42nd over, a momentous occasion that he celebrated with a triumphant leap and a powerful fist pump. As his helmet flew off, he raised his arms in jubilation and bowed in reverence to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who watched from the stands. Tendulkar rose to his feet and applauded the remarkable feat. Kohli's wife, Anushka Sharma, also present in the stands, showered him with flying kisses, a gesture he reciprocated with equal affection.

Shortly after Kohli's historic achievement, Sachin Tendulkar took to social media to extend his heartfelt congratulations. "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. 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", the tweet read. 

This remarkable milestone marks a moment of immense pride not only for Kohli but for the entire nation. The perfect culmination to this momentous occasion would be a World Cup victory on Sunday, should India secure a place in the final. This prospect seems increasingly likely, given New Zealand's early stumble in their chase.