Kohli’s Pursuit of Tendulkar’s Record
Virat Kohli, with his impressive tally of 47 centuries in 282 one-day internationals, is just two short of surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record. Tendulkar, the Indian cricket legend, set a high bar with 49 centuries in 463 ODIs, amassing the highest run total in the 50-over format with 18,426 runs.
In a recent match against Australia, Kohli was on the brink of closing the gap to one century, but was dismissed at 85, despite leading India to a six-wicket victory.
Ponting’s Prediction for World Cup 2023
With at least eight more ODIs scheduled for India in the 2023 World Cup, former Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting is confident that Kohli will match or even surpass Tendulkar’s record during the tournament. Speaking on The ICC Review podcast, Ponting stated, “I think he’ll definitely get two hundreds, whether he gets the three is another thing.”
Ponting believes that the conditions in India, including the venues and wickets, are ideal for high scoring. He also suggested that this could be Kohli’s last World Cup, which might provide an additional motivation for the Indian cricketer.
Kohli’s Track Record and Future Prospects
Kohli has previously scored two centuries in Cricket World Cups, including a 100* in his tournament debut against Bangladesh in 2011. His first ODI century was a 107 against Sri Lanka in December 2009, and he most recently scored 122* against Pakistan.
Despite a dry spell without an ODI century between August 2019 and December 2022, the 34-year-old has bounced back, scoring four centuries in 15 innings since then. Ponting praised Kohli’s work ethic and fitness, stating, “Forty-nine one-day international hundreds is amazing. But he deserves that, he works hard.”
Kohli’s Success in ODIs
Kohli has already surpassed Tendulkar’s record for the most runs in successful ODI chases during this Cricket World Cup, accumulating 5,517 runs. He has scored 26 of his 47 ODI centuries while batting in the second innings, with 22 of those centuries contributing to India’s victories.
Ponting expressed his admiration for Kohli’s performance in chases, stating, “His record speaks for itself, when you get hundreds chasing, most of those in winning causes. He’d be my first pick by the length of the straight.”