Virat Kohli equalled his idol Sachin Tendulkar's record of most ODI centuries with his 49th hundred, laying the foundation for India's 243-run pummelling of South Africa in the World Cup on Sunday. Chasing 327, the African side got bowled out for 83 in 27.1 overs as India consolidated its top place in the pecking order. Here is how captains Rohit Sharma and Temba Bavuma reacted after the one-sided contest at Kolkata's Eden Gardens.
MATCH REPORT | Kohli's ton, Jadeja's fifer help India hammer South Africa by 243 runs
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma: "Wicket played as we suspected it to play - expected it to deteriorate but we didn't adapt well. It will be up to us to adapt our skills accordingly."
- "We know the challenge, know the narrative around us while chasing and didn't do it any justice today. The first ten overs with the ball made it a challenge. We did do quite well after that. Biggest challenge was taking wickets and India built big stands. The conditions are the biggest learning."
India captain Rohit Sharma: "If you look at how we have played in the last three games, we have adapted better. Today, we needed Kohli to go out there and play to the situation. We then knew we had to keep it in the right areas (with the ball) and let the pitch do the rest."
- "Not to get too ahead of ourselves has been the talk in the dressing room. We have a couple of big games coming up. We don't want to change anything."
Player of the match Virat Kohli: "It is all too much for me to take in now, to equal my hero's record is something special for me. He is perfection when it comes to batting. But I am never going to be as good as him." (About equalling Sachin Tendulkar's tally of 49 ODI centuries)
- "It was a big game, probably playing the toughest team in the tournament. There was a motivation to do well. Because it happened on my birthday, it becomes special and the people made it more special for me."
- "People from the outside look at the game in a bit of a different way. When the openers start well, you feel it is a belter but the conditions slowed down drastically. I was happy form that perspective. Once you got more than 315, we knew that we were above par."
