“Chances of him getting to 100 centuries…” - Sunil Gavaskar on Virat Kohli breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record

Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar said that ace batter Virat Kohli has a realistic chance of matching Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar's 100-century record in international cricket. Gavaskar added that if the 37-year-old continues playing for another three years, the remaining centuries are well within reach.

India secured a nine-wicket victory in the third and final ODI at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, December 6. Chasing 271 runs, Rohit Sharma (75) and Yashasvi Jaiswal added a 155-run partnership for the opening wicket. Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 116, while Kohli smashed 65 off 45 balls.

The Chances of Him Getting to 100 Are Big, Very Good - Sunil Gavaskar on Virat Kohli

Speaking on JioHotstar, Sunil Gavaskar said that Kohli hit two tons in a three-match series and could add more in upcoming games, which would move him closer to the high 80s. Gavaskar added that reaching 100 centuries looks very achievable.

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“Why not? Even if he plays for three more years, he needs 16 hundreds from here,” said Gavaskar on air.

“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 added.

Virat Kohli Played His Shots From the Second Ball - Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar said that Kohli looked relaxed and confident, noting that the strong opening stand allowed him to play freely. He added that it was rare to see Kohli’s T20-style play in an ODI innings.

“The way he batted today (Saturday), knowing the match was almost in India’s pocket—he knew a good foundation had been laid by the openers and that batters in good form were to follow,” Gavaskar explained.

“So he enjoyed himself in the middle. Very rarely have we seen this version of Virat Kohli—the T20 avatar—in ODI cricket.”

"He played his shots from the second ball, and not one of them was reckless. Can anyone tell me whether there was an inside-edge or an outside-edge in his innings?” said Gavaskar.

Virat Kohli Redefines ODI Approach With Dominant 302-Run Series

Virat Kohli scored 302 runs in the series at an average of 151 and a strike rate of 117.05. His strike rate was far quicker than his career mark of around 94. He smashed two centuries and an unbeaten 65 in Visakhapatnam. The right-handed batter hit 24 fours and 12 sixes across the series.

Kohli showed an excellent balance between aggression and control. While clearing the ropes more often than in most phases of his career, he still maintained his trademark strike rotation, regularly taking singles and doubles.

He has reshaped his style of play in ODIs. Instead of waiting until the final overs to accelerate, he is now applying pressure from the very beginning while still preserving the consistency and running game that have defined his success.

Also read: Virat Kohli breaks AB de Villiers, MS Dhoni, and Sachin Tendulkar records after India’s win in Visakhapatnam