Cricket World Cup | "Equalling Sachin's record special, I am not going to be as good as him," says Virat after 49th ODI ton

Virat Kohli equalled Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI tons with a match-winning century against South Africa. India won the match, their 8th successive win in the tournament. Virat said it was special to equal his "hero" and he is not as good as Sachin.

Following his match-winning century against South Africa in India's ICC Cricket World Cup match, which helped him equal Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI tons, star India batter Virat Kohli on Sunday said to tie with his "hero" is special for him and he is not going to be "as good as" Tendulkar.

Virat's record-equalling 49th ODI century and Ravindra Jadeja's five-wicket haul were the highlights of the day as India defeated South Africa at Eden Gardens.

This is India's eighth successive win in the ongoing tournament. On equalling Sachin's record, Virat said after the match, "It is all too much for me to take in now, to equal my hero's record is something special for me. He (Tendulkar) is perfection when it comes to batting. I am not going to be as good as him. It was a very emotional moment for me, I know where I come from, I know the days when I watched him on TV. Just to get that appreciation from him means a lot to me. I am not going to be as good as him."

Virat said that Team India was playing perhaps the toughest team of the tournament and he was motivated to do well. His century coming on his 35th birthday becomes even special, he added.

"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 became special and the people made it more special for me. I did wake up with the excitement that today is not just another game," said Virat.

On the pace of his innings after a fiery start from openers, Virat said that people from outside see things in different way and the surface slowed down drastically as the innings went on. He also said that once the team reached more than 315 runs, they knew they had an above-par score in their hands.