Ending his semi-final curse at the grandest stage on Wednesday, Nov 15, run machine Virat Kohli played a masterful knock against Kane Williamson’s New Zealand to surpass his idol Sachin Tendulkar at the famous Wankhede Stadium. Continuing his sublime run in the 2023 World Cup, Kohli shattered Tendulkar’s triple records in a single innings during the first semi-final of the ICC tournament. Batting first in the rematch of the 2019 World Cup semi-final at Mumbai, India made an impressive start with captain Rohit Sharma dominating the Kiwi pacers in the powerplay. However, Rohit was stopped in his tracks in the 8th over as the Indian skipper perished for an entertaining 47 off 29 balls. Continuing the tradition of cashing in on the starts given by openers Shubman Gill and Rohit, premier batter Kohli took up the role of an anchor as the former India skipper notched up a brilliant half-century in 59 balls against the Black Caps.

Kohli surpassed Tendulkar by smashing his eighth fifty-plus score in the 2023 World Cup. Master Blaster Tendulkar had registered 7 half-centuries in the 2003 edition of the World Cup. Kohli, who has eight 50-plus scores in the 2023 World Cup, achieved the iconic feat in 10 innings. Tendulkar had unlocked the same milestone in 11 innings at the 2003 World Cup.

After scoring his 72nd One Day International half-century, Kohli then set his sights on smashing Tendulkar’s massive milestone at the World Cup 2023. Enjoying a 93-run stand with Gill, who was later retired hurt in the 23rd over, Kohli then teamed up with an on-song Shreyas Iyer to put India on the verge of registering a challenging total at the Wankhede Stadium. Kohli moved into the 80s in the 33rd over to break Tendulkar’s long-standing World Cup record. Kohli received the loudest cheer when he took a comfortable single off Glenn Phillips on the third ball of the 33rd over. The former India skipper zoomed past Tendulkar by scoring 674-plus runs in the 2023 World Cup. The Little Master amassed 673 runs in the 2003 edition of the World Cup in which Sourav Ganguly’s India made it to the final of the ICC tournament. Fresh from shattering Tendulkar’s twin records, Kohli entered the nervous nineties in the 36th over.

Kohli, who gifted himself a record-equalling century on his 35th birthday against South Africa, slammed his century No.50 to eclipse Tendulkar for the third time in the first semi-final of the World Cup. No player in the history of ODI cricket has slammed more centuries than Kohli. Carried on his shoulders by a young Kohli after the 2011 World Cup final, batting legend Tendulkar hit century No.49 in his 451st ODI innings. Twelve years after Sachin’s World Cup swansong, former India skipper Kohli became the first player to slam 50 ODI centuries in the 41st over of the Indian innings.