Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar had nothing but praise for Virat Kohli after he hit a record-equaling 49th ODI century against South Africa in the ongoing ICC Men's Cricket World Cup at the iconic venue, Eden Gardens on his 35th birthday. Kohli scored an unbeaten 101 off 121 balls on Sunday to help India clinch victory. He had smashed his first-ever ODI ton at the Eden Gardens back in 2009.

Tendulkar took to social media and posted a congratulatory message for Kohli, mentioning that he hopes Kohli breaks his record in the coming days. He wrote, "Well played Virat. It took me 365 days to go from 49 to 50 earlier this year. I hope you go from 49 to 50 and break my record in the next few days. Congratulations!!".

Tendulkar and Kohli have both exclusively scored 49 centuries in their respective ODI careers. However, batting legend Tendulkar smashed 49 ODI centuries in 438 innings while Kohli achieved the same feat in 277 innings. 

Though Kohli levelled with Tendulkar's ODI centuries record, he still remains 21 tons behind the his idol in terms of international hundreds. Kohli hit his 79th international century against South Africa.

With this knock, he surpassed the 500-run mark in an ODI World Cup and for the first time has scored two centuries in a single edition of the ODI World Cup.