Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has voiced strong confidence in Virat Kohli's ability to achieve the monumental feat of scoring 100 international centuries. This comes after Kohli's recent back-to-back ODI hundreds against South Africa, bringing his total to 84.
Gavaskar's Confident Prediction
Speaking on Star Sports, Gavaskar dismissed doubts about Kohli reaching the landmark. "Why not? Even if he plays for three more years, he needs 16 hundreds from here," Gavaskar stated. He highlighted Kohli's current form as a key indicator, pointing out that the modern batting great had just scored two centuries in a three-match series.
Gavaskar laid out a simple path to the record. "The way he has been batting, he has scored two hundreds in a three-match series. Going forward, even if he scores two more against New Zealand in a three-match series, he will reach 87. So the chances of him getting to 100 are big, very good," he explained. He also noted that Kohli seemed to be enjoying his cricket, which bodes well for his continued performance.
The Road to 100: Breaking Down the Numbers
Virat Kohli's twin centuries in the ongoing ODI series against South Africa have reignited the debate about him catching up to, and potentially surpassing, Sachin Tendulkar's record of 100 international hundreds. With his second ton in Raipur, Kohli now stands at 84 centuries, leaving him 16 short of the historic milestone.
Gavaskar did acknowledge a potential hurdle—a break in play. "See, he has a month's break before the New Zealand ODIs. It remains to be seen what happens to his form in these few days. If that break was not there, I am sure he would score two or three hundreds in the series," he added, suggesting that momentum is currently on Kohli's side.
Other Experts Weigh In
Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra also shared his optimistic view on the matter via his YouTube channel. Chopra calculated that Kohli could still play a significant number of matches, enhancing his opportunity. "He can still play 35 to 40 matches by the end of the World Cup. So it seems like he should score them easily," Chopra said.
He humorously referenced Kohli's prolific form, suggesting the batter is scoring centuries at a rapid pace. The consensus among these experts is clear: if Virat Kohli maintains his fitness and current appetite for runs, the record is well within his reach.
The discussion sets the stage for an exciting phase in Kohli's career as fans and pundits alike watch to see if he can turn this confident prediction into reality. His journey towards the elusive 100-century mark promises to be a captivating narrative in world cricket.
