Virat Kohli’s first chance to exceed Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of centuries will be in the match against the Netherlands in Bengaluru this Sunday. The cricket world is eagerly waiting to see if the former captain can set a new record.
Should Kohli not achieve this feat against the Netherlands, he will have another shot at it in the Cricket World Cup semi-final, where India is set to face the team that finishes fourth.
If India triumphs in this high-stakes match, they will secure a place in the World Cup final. This would give Kohli the opportunity to set the record at the grand Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, possibly against South Africa or Australia.
Out of Kohli’s 49 ODI centuries so far, four have been scored in Cricket World Cups. Two of these were achieved in this tournament, where the 35-year-old scored a century against South Africa and Bangladesh.
We revisit Kohli’s four World Cup centuries and look forward to seeing if he can score a fifth and surpass Tendulkar’s significant record in the upcoming matches.
2011: Bangladesh, Mirpur (100* off 83 balls)
Kohli’s first World Cup century was scored on unfamiliar ground when he was just 22. He partnered with opener Virendar Sehwag to dominate Bangladesh.
Kohli joined the game with India comfortably positioned at 152/2 in the 24th over. Together with Sehwag, they formed a 203-run partnership that propelled India to an impressive total of 370/4.
Sehwag was the main force of the partnership, scoring a remarkable 175 off 140 balls. However, Kohli’s contribution was equally crucial, hitting eight fours and two sixes in an excellent individual performance.
2015: Pakistan, Adelaide (107 off 126 balls)
Four years later, Kohli scored his second World Cup century, again against India’s arch-rival, Pakistan.
Kohli’s controlled performance, aided by Suresh Raina (74) and Shikhar Dhawan (73), helped India achieve a winning score of 300/7. This was after captain MS Dhoni chose to bat first.
Without Sehwag to overshadow him, Kohli was awarded the Player of the Match for his outstanding performance.
2023: Bangladesh, Pune (103* off 97 balls)
At this World Cup, Kohli had already hinted at his potential with half-centuries against Australia and Afghanistan. He then scored his 48th ODI century with a remarkable performance against Bangladesh in Pune.
This was Kohli’s first World Cup century in a run chase. He skillfully achieved his milestone and secured victory for his team with a powerful strike over deep mid-wicket and into the stands.
Kohli ended his innings undefeated, hitting six fours and four sixes. This helped India maintain their unbeaten World Cup run and progress towards the knockout stages.
2023: South Africa, Kolkata (101* off 125 balls)
Kohli’s most recent ODI century was scored on his 35th birthday against South Africa’s formidable bowling line-up.
Despite the Proteas’ six different bowlers, none could stop Kohli as he put on a spectacular show at the renowned Eden Gardens ground. This performance helped him equal Tendulkar’s record and aided India in achieving a substantial total of 326/5.
With the support of Shreyas Iyer (77) during the middle overs, Kohli seemed in control. This victory ensured India topped the group stage standings.