Watch: Team India celebrates Virat Kohli's birthday after record win over South Africa
After achieving a record win over South Africa in the ICC World Cup 2023 match in Kolkata, Team India celebrated star batter Virat Kohli's birthday and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja's match-winning performances by cutting cake on Sunday.
There were two cakes to commemorate the occasion, with Jadeja cutting one and Kohli the other. After slicing the cake, Jadeja extended it to Kohli, who playfully hesitated, resulting in a humorous moment. Kohli scored a record 49th ODI hundred on his 35th birthday, while Jadeja shone with the ball, securing five wickets in India's 243-run win over South Africa. The video capturing this incident is currently gaining widespread attention on social media.
The highly anticipated clash between two cricketing powerhouses in the 2023 World Cup turned out to be a stark demonstration of the gap between the host nation, India, and the rest of the teams in the tournament.
"It's quite special. It's all too much to take for me right now. To equal my hero's record, it's quite special for me. I grew up watching him bat and he's perfection when it comes to batting. I will never be as good as him. He is always going to be my hero whatever happens."
"It has been an emotional journey for me. I know from where I have come and to stand here and receive that appreciation from him, it means a lot to me.
Just three days after a dominating performance that saw them dismiss Sri Lanka for a mere 55 runs, securing a massive 302-run victory against the 1996 World Cup champions, India showcased their prowess once again at Eden Gardens. Virat Kohli's century and Ravindra Jadeja's extraordinary five-wicket haul propelled the home team to a commanding 243-run triumph over South Africa, marking the Proteas' most significant defeat in World Cup history.
South Africa were bowled out by India for a mere 83 runs, marking their lowest-ever total in a 50-over World Cup match. This performance underlined the exceptional form of the Indian team and their dominance in the tournament.
