New Delhi:While Virat Kohli has already secured his position as the record-holder for the most ODI centuries, former India head coach Ravi Shastri is confident that the 35-year-old is on a trajectory to surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s historic feat of 100 international centuries.
Kohli’s remarkable tally includes 50 centuries in ODIs, 29 in Tests, and one in T20Is, totaling 80 scores above 100. In the recent World Cup semifinal against New Zealand, Kohli surpassed Tendulkar’s record of 49 one-day hundreds.
“Who would have thought when Sachin Tendulkar got 100 hundreds that anyone would come close? And, he’s got 80; 80 international hundreds, 50 of them in the one-day game, which makes him the highest. Unreal,” expressed Shastri during The ICC Review.
Shastri emphasized that Kohli’s ability to swiftly accumulate centuries is not to be underestimated. “Nothing’s impossible because such players, when they start reeling off hundreds, then they score them pretty quickly. His next 10 innings, you might see another five hundreds.”
Despite the pressure inherent in playing across all three formats, Kohli’s composure, body language, and calmness at the crease have been exceptional. Shastri acknowledged the marked improvement, stating, “I have seen him come out in previous World Cups where he’s like a cat on a hot tin roof. None of that sort here. He’s taken his time, marked his guard, soaked the pressure, given himself time, and understood his role of batting deep in the innings. He’s just been wonderful.”
Having closely observed Kohli’s performance, Shastri highlighted the batsman’s running between the wickets, a testament to his peak fitness. “One of the features of his batting has been his running between the wickets. The fact that he doesn’t have to hit boundaries and sixes, he can run hard between the wickets because of his physical fitness.”
Shastri delved into the nuances of Kohli’s batting practice, revealing a combination of mental adjustments, technical tweaks, and rigorous physical conditioning. “It’s a mix of all three. (It) gives him some time to be calm and composed at the beginning of the innings. His shot selection in the first 10-15 runs, he doesn’t take that extra risk. He’s quite prepared to leave deliveries, knock the ball around.”
As Kohli continues to make strides on the cricketing field, the anticipation builds for his potential to reach the remarkable milestone set by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
