Taking on New Zealand in the first semifinal of the ODI World Cup 2023, Virat Kohli made a classic 117 from 113 balls to become the highest runscorer in a single edition of an ICC World Cup on Wednesday. 'King' Kohli surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's tally of 673 runs in 2003 edition to achieve the unique feat in Mumbai. However, Virat Kohli didn't stop there as he went on to score the 50th hundred of his ODI career -- the first batter to do so.
Virat Kohli was at par with Sachin Tendulkar at 49 ODI centuries in the beginning of the game. After scampering for two runs off fast bowler Lockie Ferguson to get to his mark, Kohli took off his helmet and bowed to the stands where television cameras showed Tendulkar and former England football captain David Beckham standing and clapping in appreciation.
During his knock of 117 from 113 balls, the Delhi batter smashed nine boundaries and two sixes. He has now scored a whopping 711 runs in 10 innings -- 120 runs more than second-placed Quinton de Kock of South Africa.
Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar had made 673 runs in the 2003 edition of the World Cup jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya in which India finished runners-up behind Australia.
Wednesday's knock meant Kohli recorded the most 50-plus scores in a World Cup edition, surpassing Tendulkar and Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan, who had scored seven fifties each in the 2003 and 2019 editions respectively.
India vs NZ semifinal: As it happened in first innings
India's Virat Kohli struck a record 50th hundred in one-dayers to power the unbeaten hosts to 397 for four wickets against New Zealand in the World Cup semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.
The 35-year-old Kohli hit nine fours and two sixes before holing out in the deep off fast bowler Tim Southee, who took three wickets for 100.
Shreyas Iyer's blistering 105, which came off just 70 balls and was studded with four fours and eight sixes, provided the late fireworks for India's innings.
India captain Rohit Sharma, who made 47, won the toss and decided to bat and gave the hosts a rollicking start with a 71-run opening stand with Shubman Gill. But Gill retired hurt due to leg cramps but returned later to bat again, remaining unbeaten on 80.
The venue, where India won their last 50-overs World Cup title, has hosted four day-night contests so far at this tournament with three of those being won by the team batting first. Australia were the only team to win batting second at the ground after Glenn Maxwell hit an unbeaten double hundred.
