Rajat Sharma, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of India TV.
Team India has reached the final of the ODI World Cup by defeating New Zealand. It rained records at Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday. After winning the toss, the Indian team came to bat first and batted brilliantly. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill got off to a fast start. Rohit Sharma missed half century, was out after scoring 47 runs. When Virat Kohli entered the field, he made a record rain. By scoring his fiftieth ODI century, Virat broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record of scoring most ODI centuries (49). Now Virat Kohli is the only batsman in the world who has scored 50 centuries in One Day. Virat played an inning of 117 runs. Virat also became the highest scoring batsman in the World Cup. Till now he has scored 711 runs in ten matches, this record was also earlier in the name of Sachin. Sachin had scored 673 runs. Virat broke another record of Sachin. He became the player to score the most half-centuries in a World Cup. Virat has scored eight half-centuries. Sachin had made 7. Along with this, the record of hitting most number of fours in the World Cup also became in the name of Virat. Virat has hit 64 fours in this World Cup.
A record was also made in the name of Team India today. Team India became the team scoring the most runs in the knockout match of the World Cup. That’s why I said in the beginning that it rained records at Wankhede Stadium. Although everyone was waiting for Virat Kohli’s century. As soon as Virat completed his century, the audience in the entire stadium gave Virat a standing ovation. Sachin Tendulkar was also in the stands. He went to Anushka and congratulated her. Anushka Sharma also wished Virat with full enthusiasm. After the end of the innings, Virat said that making a new record in Sachin’s presence in the same stadium where Sachin had made the record of centuries is like a dream come true. And if the life partner is also watching that match, then the happiness doubles. Today, apart from Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer also batted tremendously. Shubhman Gill walked out of the field after scoring 80 runs because he had pulled a hamstring. After this Shreyas Iyer fully supported Virat. He scored a century in just 69 balls. This is the record for scoring the fastest century in a World Cup knockout match. In the end, KL Rahul scored 39 runs in just twenty balls and took Team India’s score to 397. Mohammed Shami completed the work of New Zealand’s innings by taking seven wickets and took India to the final.
As far as Virat Kohli is concerned, none of the players who played with Sachin Tendulkar thought that any player would ever be able to break Sachin’s records. But I was present at a function to celebrate Sachin’s ‘100 century’, where Sachin had said that Virat would break his record one day. Today, when Virat broke Sachin’s record, Sachin Tendulkar was present in the same stadium. They were applauding Virat’s success. Sachin is the only player in the world who has scored 100 centuries in all formats of cricket. Virat completed his 80th century today. The fitness of Virat and the passion with which Virat is playing, I am sure that Virat Kohli will break this world record of Sachin. Virat Kohli is a great cricketer. He has set an example in the world with his sports, his loyalty, his fitness, his public conduct. They inspire people. I pray that Virat Kohli continues to achieve great heights and inspire the youth. Many congratulations and best wishes to him for the record he made today. (Rajat Sharma)
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