World Cup, India vs South Africa: Eden Gardens awaiting a special Virat Kohli birthday

KOLKATA: The Team India juggernaut rolls into the City of Joy with the focus firmly on Virat Kohli.
Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash against South Africa will go a long way in deciding who will finish at the top of the heap. India, with a blemish-free campaign so far, are primed for that spot. South Africa, with an aberration against the Netherlands – forgotten since it happened – will be looking to alter that.
However, on Sunday, it will be King Kohli who will hog all the limelight, particularly as it also happens to be his birthday.On this special day, when he turns 35, Kohli would be looking to make it spectacular with a century, the 49th in ODIs that he missed in Mumbai.
Equalling Sachin Tendulkar on this milestone will be the icing on the cake that Kohli will perhaps cut in the company of his teammates.
Cricket Association of Bengal’s plans to distribute Kohli masks among fans will not happen as the ICC does not approve of such celebrations. “No plans to celebrate Kohli’s birthday,” an official told TOI. But then, there will be a lot of ‘Virat’ jerseys in the stands.

In fact those have been the highest selling ‘merchandise’ around the Eden Gardens. Even during on Pakistan-Bangladesh match last Tuesday, a number India jerseys with ‘VIRAT’ written on the back dotted the stands.
“I couldn’t get a ticket for the India game, so I decided to wear this jersey today, ” a fan had told TOI. Modest Kohli has always maintained that he had never thought he would score so many runs or centuries.
Kohli has scored a century and three half-centuries in the ongoing World Cup so far. His highest of an unbeaten 103 came against Bangladesh. With the wicket expected to help batters, Kohli, does have a good chance of making this birthday special.