Virat Kohli’s journey towards cricketing immortality isn’t over simply but. After bidding farewell to T20Is final 12 months following India’s title win within the 2024 T20 World Cup, and lately asserting his retirement from Take a look at cricket, Kohli now has only one worldwide format left—ODIs. The massive query on everybody’s thoughts: can he nonetheless break Sachin Tendulkar’s document of 100 worldwide centuries?
With 82 worldwide a whole bunch to his identify (51 in ODIs, 30 in Assessments, and 1 in T20Is), Kohli wants 18 extra centuries to equal the Grasp Blaster’s iconic milestone. However with ODIs being the one energetic format for him now, the street forward is steep—and restricted.
How can Virat Kohli attain 100 centuries? A practical roadmap
As talked about above, Kohli at present sits on 82 worldwide centuries and within the present panorama the place ODIs are performed much less regularly, Kohli’s process turns into much more difficult. With the rise of T20 leagues and a packed Take a look at calendar, bilateral ODI collection have gotten rarer. This reduces the variety of alternatives he will get to bat and convert begins into massive scores. Because of this, each innings now carries extra weight in his quest to succeed in the 100-century mark. Now let’s perceive how that is doable, or at the very least not totally unattainable:
1. ODI format nonetheless fits his recreation
Kohli has at all times thrived within the 50-over format. He’s broadly considered one of many best ODI batters ever, with a ridiculous common of over 57.88. Even at 36, his capacity to tempo an innings, rotate strike, and end video games stays unmatched. His 51 ODI a whole bunch have come throughout 292 matches. That’s one century each 5.7 innings on common.
However in recent times, his frequency has improved. In 2023 alone, he scored 6 ODI tons, together with three within the World Cup—proof that his starvation hasn’t declined. If he retains scoring on the identical strike fee, he may realistically notch 15–18 centuries within the subsequent 3–4 years, offered he performs constantly.
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2. The 2027 World Cup
If Kohli chooses to proceed until the 2027 ODI World Cup, he’ll have at the very least 3 extra full years within the format. India will mess around 27 ODIs till then, and extra could possibly be added primarily based on bilateral collection, Asia Cups, and Champions Trophy-like tournaments. Assuming Kohli options in 25 out of these 27 ODIs, and performs 6–8 ODIs yearly after that, followers may even see him at 35–40 ODIs earlier than retirement.
To get to 100 tons from 82, he wants 18 ODI centuries in 35–40 matches — a close to unattainable fee for many, however not totally out of Kohli’s vary if he has a purple patch.
3. Kohli and massive tournaments – A love story
Kohli’s largest energy is his capacity to carry out in ICC tournaments. With the World Cup 2027 on the calendar, India are set to play high-pressure video games—precisely the sort the place Kohli thrives. Within the 2023 ODI World Cup, he smashed 3 centuries, and if he can proceed that pattern in ICC occasions, a handful of a whole bunch may come simply from international tournaments.
4. Kohli’s health and psychological resilience
Few athletes in world sport match Kohli’s health requirements. At 36, he’s in higher form than many 28-year-olds, which suggests he can proceed taking part in at peak ranges for just a few extra years. Mentally, he’s proven again and again that he’s constructed for longevity and comebacks. With the burden of multi-format cricket now lifted, Kohli can focus totally on one format, scale back burnout, and maximize output.
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