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Virat Kohli<\/strong><\/a> has never shied away from expressing his admiration for some of cricket\u2019s greatest moments, and the former India<\/strong> captain recently reflected on one such occasion that continues to hold a special place in his memory. Widely regarded as one of the finest batters of the modern era, Kohli revealed that there is one iconic cricketing moment he wishes he could have experienced firsthand as a player.<\/p>\n The 37-year-old, who is currently recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during the IPL 2026<\/strong> final. The veteran batter missed India\u2019s ODI series against Afghanistan<\/strong> but is expected to return in time for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England<\/strong> after enjoying another outstanding IPL season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Speaking on the YouTube channel of his lifestyle brand One8, Kohli\u2019s response quickly grabbed the attention of cricket fans, offering a glimpse into the match that inspired him during his formative years. He revealed that the 2003 World Cup<\/strong> match between India and Pakistan<\/strong> at Centurion would be his choice. The match in question was India\u2019s famous clash against Pakistan during the 2003 ODI World Cup in South Africa<\/strong>, a contest remembered largely for a breathtaking innings by Sachin Tendulkar<\/strong><\/a> against a world-class bowling attack.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s quite a difficult one to answer. I\u2019d probably say the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, Centurion. I would have loved to be batting with Sachin Paaji when he hit that shot off Shoaib and the way he batted that day. That really knocked me into the reality of, \u2018Woah, this is the level I want to get to.\u2019 And I would love to be at the non-striker\u2019s end,\u201d<\/em> Kohli said.<\/p>\n The innings remains one of the most celebrated knocks in ODI World Cup history. Chasing 274, Tendulkar took the attack to Pakistan\u2019s formidable pace trio of Shoaib Akhtar<\/strong>, Wasim Akram<\/strong> and Waqar Younis<\/strong>, giving India early momentum in a high-pressure contest.<\/p>\n Also READ: \u201cWhen I see him, I think of\u2026\u201d: Ravi Shastri reveals which West Indies great Virat Kohli reminds him of<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n One of the defining moments of the innings came when Tendulkar upper-cut Akhtar over point for a stunning six, a shot that has since become part of cricket folklore. The Indian legend followed it up with consecutive boundaries, instantly shifting the pressure onto Pakistan and energising millions of fans watching around the world.<\/p>\n Although Tendulkar fell for 98 off just 75 deliveries, his aggressive start had already laid the foundation for victory. India eventually chased down the target with six wickets in hand, securing one of their most memorable World Cup wins against their arch-rivals.<\/p>\n The tournament itself was a remarkable one for Tendulkar. He finished as the leading run-scorer with 673 runs in 11 innings, including six half-centuries and one century. While India eventually lost to Australia<\/strong> in the final, Tendulkar\u2019s performances throughout the competition remain among the finest individual campaigns in World Cup history.<\/p>\nVirat Kohli picks Sachin Tendulkar\u2019s iconic World Cup masterclass<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Tendulkar\u2019s 98 continues to inspire generations<\/strong><\/h2>\n