Virat Kohli said he felt "honoured" to equal "hero" Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 one-day international hundreds during India's 243-run World Cup rout of fellow semi-finalists South Africa on Sunday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kohli, on his 35th birthday, made a superbly paced 101 not out in a total of 326-5 after India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss on a tricky pitch at Kolkata's Eden Gardens.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India, who have now won all eight of their pool play matches so far and are guaranteed to finish top of the 10-team table, then dismissed South Africa for just 83 in 27.1 overs, with left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja taking 5-33.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
During the innings break, the now retired Tendulkar, acknowledged his fellow batting great's feat on X, formerly Twitter.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Well played Virat," said Tendulkar, whom Kohli lifted on his shoulders in celebration after they were team-mates in India's 2011 World Cup final win.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It took me 365 days to go from 49 to 50 (years old) earlier this year. I hope you go from 49 to 50 and break my record in the next few days. Congratulations."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It had taken Kohli 277 innings to score 49 hundreds and his first chance to get to a 50th will be in the last group game against the Netherlands next weekend.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Tendulkar's tweet is quite special," said Kohli. "It's all too much to take in for now. It's a huge honour to equal my hero's record. He's perfection with the bat. It's an emotional moment. I know the days I come from, I know the days I have watched him on TV.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"To receive appreciation from him means a lot to me."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India's colossal winning margin was all the more impressive given South Africa, whose only defeat in the tournament before this match was a shock loss to the Netherlands, are second in the 10-team table and already assured of a last four spot themselves.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It was a big game," said Kohli. "We were probably playing the toughest team in the tournament so far, there was motivation for doing well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"People made it a bit more special on my birthday. I had a sense of it being something more."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He added: "The message from the management was for me to bat deep, I was happy from that perspective."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- 'Who writes your scripts?' -<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Former India opener Sunil Gavaskar said Kohli's ability to rise to the occasion reminded him of celebrated England all-rounder Ian Botham's comeback to international duty in a 1986 Test against New Zealand at the Oval following a suspension for recreational drug use.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Botham took a wicket with his first ball and then dismissed Jeff Crowe to surpass Australia legend Dennis Lillee's world record tally of 355 Test wickets.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"At which point Graham Gooch who was also playing in the (England) team asked him 'who writes your scripts?'," said Gavaskar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"And that is the question Kohli should be asked -- 'who has written your script where on your birthday you score your 49th (hundred) to equal your hero?' An incredible script."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis, also commentating for Star Sports, said Kohli was a "master of playing spin in these conditions".<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"But what's fascinating about that knock is the (small) amount of dot balls Virat plays, he is a guy that is extremely well (capable) in getting 'ones' from good deliveries," said Du Plessis of his former opponent.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I think that's the difference between great players and the guys that struggle -- the ability to hit one instead of getting dot, dot, dot and then you hit yourself out of trouble."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, the significance of the occasion appeared to have little effect on Sri Lanka's World Cup skipper Kusal Mendis.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi ahead of his team's game against Bangladesh, Mendis was asked if would like to pass on his tribute to Kohli.<\/p>\r\n\r\n