In a gesture of cross-sport admiration, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic praised Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli for his ‘legendary’ knock against New Zealand in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup semifinal. Kohli’s remarkable 50th ODI century, a record-breaking feat, resonated globally, drawing acclaim from Djokovic.
The Indian skipper’s century, achieved in the 42nd over against Lockie Ferguson, propelled him to surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI centuries. Notably, this was Kohli’s first century in the knockout stage of the Cricket World Cup, further securing his place in cricket history.
Djokovic took to Instagram to extend his congratulations to Kohli for making history and delivering a match-defining performance in a high-pressure game. Kohli’s innings of 117 contributed significantly to India posting a record-breaking total of 397/4 in the semifinal, marking the highest first-innings score in a men’s World Cup semifinal.
The Indian captain’s century complemented a stellar opening partnership between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, along with Shreyas Iyer’s explosive century. Kohli’s knock also propelled him to become the highest run-scorer in a single edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup.
Meanwhile, Djokovic, concluding 2023 as the ATP’s top-ranked player, is currently participating in the ATP World Tour Finals. Despite a recent defeat, Djokovic is gearing up for his return to Grand Slam competition at the Australian Open in early 2024.
India secured victory against New Zealand by 70 runs, advancing to the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup.
