'Happy an Indian broke record': Sachin Tendulkar to centurion Virat Kohli

Sachin Tendulkar shares a light moment with teammate Virat Kohli during a training session (Pic: AFP)

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar hailed Virat Kohli on Wednesday, telling his compatriot he 'couldn't be happier that an Indian' broke his record for one-day international hundreds.

Kohli racked up his 50th century in the format on Tendulkar's home Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand.

"The first time I met you in the Indian dressing room, you were pranked by other teammates into touching my feet. I couldn't stop laughing that day," Tendulkar wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"But soon, you touched my heart with your passion and skill. I couldn't be happier that an Indian broke my record. "And to do it on the biggest stage - in the World Cup semi-final - and at my home ground is the icing on the cake."

Kohli had moved level with Tendulkar's all-time mark of 49 centuries on his 35th birthday in the World Cup group stage win over South Africa 10 days ago. On Wednesday, Kohli went onto make 117 as India piled up 397-4 in their innings.

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India won all nine of their pool matches, but were pushed hard by New Zealand during a four-wicket success in Dharamsala last month. New Zealand, by contrast, lost four games before qualifying for the knockout stages.

Exactly four years ago, the Black Caps defeated India in a World Cup semi-final in Manchester that spanned two days because of rain. India are bidding for a third one-day international World Cup title to add to their 1983 triumph in England and 2011 victory over Sri Lanka in a Wankhede final.

New Zealand, the finalists at the last two World Cups, have yet to lift the trophy. Wednesday's winners will face either five-time champions Australia or South Africa, who meet in Thursday's second semi-final in Kolkata, in an Ahmedabad final on Sunday.

(With agency inputs)