On the same day that Sachin Tendulkar played his final match 10 years ago, Virat Kohli broke the legendary batter’s world record by scoring a 50th ODI century.
On a sultry Wednesday afternoon at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Virat Kohli re-opened an age-old debate about destiny.
Kohli climbed a summit – one that nobody else has scaled before – to become the only player to score fifty One-Day International hundreds in cricket history.
In that moment, during the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup semi-final between India and New Zealand, with a number of bigwigs from Bollywood watching from the stands, it seemed like the greatest script in the most perfect setting had been designed for him. And Kohli gave that reminder, that if could write or rewrite destiny, it was him.
A spiritual man now, he often acknowledges a higher power in moments of success, yet he has made it exceedingly obvious through his actions that he is not one to resign himself to fate or destiny.
He takes charge of his own story instead. And with it, he has taken India to greater heights in the cricketing world, as India beat New Zealand by 70 runs to reach the fourth World Cup final.
From being unfit to becoming one of the fittest cricketers to have played the game. From coming across as a brash brat to a thoughtful team player, from a star in the making to a role model. From being a diamond in the rough to a certified legend of the sport – Kohli may have been destined for greatness but his 50th ODI century was a reminder that he went out of his way to show that he deserved it too.
On Wednesday, amidst the sapping heat, Kohli battled cramps yet ran hard to get the two runs off Lockie Ferguson. The result was the hero of his own story, starring in a scene that was hard to top.
Breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record, Kohli stood tall among sporting greats. Tendulkar, Viv Richards, Sunil Gavaskar, David Beckham also present at the stadium, who stood up to applaud another great among them.
Reaching the milestone after a scampering for two runs was almost poetic, for it was exactly that kind of grind that created his destiny.
A wiser, older Kohli does not celebrate as strongly anymore but on this day, there was a glimpse of his aggression from the younger days in the punch in the air, sheer passion in his jump and also childlike delight after completing the ton.
