With a world record of 49 and more at the age of 35, “King” Kohli seeks “God” where it all began 14 years ago

Do you need a particular occasion to feel extra special if you are Virat Kohli? Walking up to bat and hearing 70000 fans yell “Happy Birthday” must seem weird. Then then, would it really have mattered if it hadn’t been his 35th birthday? Does Kohli care about any day at all? Whether he is fielding or batting, playing in the IPL or internationally, at a nets session or during a World Cup match, he almost never loses the focus. You cannot run away from expectations if you are a Kohli. If you are Kohli, the inspection is so regular and minute that it becomes monotonous. The tension is constant.

The India vs. South Africa World Cup 2023 encounter on Sunday will be somewhat unusual even by these standards—possibly not for Kohli, but definitely for us. Not only does this birthday mark his upcoming birthday, but it also has the potential to be the most significant of all of them. It may formally place him on the same level as his boyhood idol, Sachin Tendulkar.

At the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai a few days ago, Kohli came up 12 shy of matching Tendulkar’s global record of 49 ODI hundreds. How magnificent would it have been to achieve godly status at God’s land, especially against Sri Lanka—the same team that India defeated to win the World Cup there twelve years prior? It was not to be, however.

Where Virat Kohli’s journey began

He’s going on a date this time, to Eden Gardens in Kolkata, with South Africa. Undoubtedly, fate would not abandon him twice—not on his birthday, not on the spot where his story began fourteen years before. Still getting used to the international scene, Kohli hit his first century of 107 off 114 balls on a chilly December 2009 evening, helping India chase down 316 with seven wickets remaining. After his match, Gautam Gambhir phoned Kohli to share the Player of the Match honor despite being the undefeated 150th player in the tournament.

It was the first of Kohli’s 27 runs in a run chase in addition to his 48 ODI hundreds. The thrill was the same even if the circumstance of making an international century in front of a sizable audience was different. Naturally, he had experience scoring hundreds of years in the Eden Gardens. Even though he was born in Delhi, Kohli spent a lot of his early cricket career playing at this iconic ground and scoring hundreds, the most recent of which came only six months prior to that terrible night against Sri Lanka in a P Sen Trophy final.

In pursuit of his elusive 49th hundred, Kohli, now the unchallenged King, will return to Eden Gardens after 14 years. Grand preparations were also made at the site to give out Kohli masks to every fan and have a cake-cutting ceremony before to the commencement of play. However, these plans had to be abandoned at the last minute since the International Cricket Council (ICC) prohibits players from making such extravagant gestures during a World Cup.

But gestures—who needs them? Certainly, Kohli doesn’t. It’s his World Cup. Without a doubt, he is the orchestra’s conductor. If so, how else would you account for the Delhi crowd’s sudden and dramatic shift in support of Afghanistan bowler Naveen-ul-Haq on just one gesture from Kohli? Could you think of a more fitting excuse than Virat Kohli for the crowded Wakhede Stadium to start chanting “Shubman Shubman” instead of “Sara Sara”?

At the Eden Gardens on Sunday, anticipate more of the same. The hint was there on Saturday when Kohli urged a small group of people to be silent so he could workout. The cries of “Kohli Kohli” were replaced with quiet appreciation.

After taking throwdowns, Kohli girded himself to take on the bowlers. A down-the-track lofted shot, a flip here, a strong defense in between, one cover drive… Everything was going as normal. nor the thrill of turning 35, nor the anxiety of getting close to a world record 49.

“I believe Virat has been really at ease, and his performances, which include him batting well for us, show that he is as eager to play as ever. So, you know, I haven’t observed any changes. He hasn’t changed over time. He has always been diligent, professional, and aware of his surroundings. Thus, nothing has changed. Furthermore, I doubt that he is giving 49 and 50 any thought, and he most likely isn’t considering the fact that his birthday is approaching. However, I believe that his primary concentration has been on winning the tournament and performing well for us as a team. On the eve of the game, India’s head coach Rahul Dravid said, “I think he’s doing that really well.”

Dravid also alluded to the spinner Kohli as a birthday return present. “We definitely possess the ability to summon our nimble, in-swinging threat, Virat Kohli. And I would support him for a few overs there in a few wickets, especially with the fans behind him. In the previous game, the audience was clamoring for him to bowl. It was very almost an over for him.”

Kohli’s incredible performance at Eden Park and against South Africa

Since 2017, this will be Kohli’s first ODI in Kolkata. On a challenging surface, he earned 92 points to win Player of the Match. He has averaged 47 in the seven One-Day Internationals (ODIs) that he has played at this location. To go along with his three half-centuries is a century.

His stats improve much more while playing South Africa. In 30 One-Day Internationals against South Africa, Kohli’s average is 61. He has defeated the Proteas four hundred and eighty times.