Irfan Pathan Confident Of Virat Kohli Reaching 100 International Centuries

If anyone that comes close to Sachin Tendulkar’s batting greatness, it is his fellow countryman and current captain Virat Kohli. Even seven years after retiring from international cricket, Sachin Tendulkar is the custodian of numerous batting records. Amongst the many records, Sachin’s record of 100 international centuries remains the hallmark of his splendour. But Irfan Pathan confidently states that Virat Kohli is on the brink of breaching it.

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Currently, Virat Kohli has 70 international centuries, out of which 43 have arrived in ODIs while the remaining 27 in Tests. Over the last years, the 31-year-old has rapidly progressed to become an undisputed batsman in ODI cricket, holding a penchant for scoring consistently at an excellent strike rate. With 71 international tons, former Australian captain is the only other batsman above Virat Kohli.

Irfan Pathan conceded that while Kohli might not be thinking about these records, but other than Sachin, he is the only one having the potential to achieve it. The 35-year old hailed the Indian skipper for all his accomplishments so far and hopes to witness if or when Kohli does it. Pathan added that he was in the scheme of things when Tendulkar got to 100 international tons.

“I am sure 100 hundreds, he might not be talking about it but you know if anyone could achieve that feat, after Sachin Tendulkar he is the one. You know he has achieved so much with such little time and I hope if anyone breaks the records of 100 hundreds because I was part of Sachin’s journey when he scored that last hundred as well,” the retired cricketer said as quoted by India Today.

I think Virat Kohli will be able to achieve it before he retires: Irfan Pathan

Pathan added that if anyone goes past the record, it has to be an Indian and Virat boasts of the ability and fitness to reach there. With 30 shy of getting to that mark, the Baroda all-rounder wishes that Virat Kohli has the target in his mind.

“But I always wish if anyone breaks the record he has to be an Indian and Virat has the ability and fitness, which is the most important thing to be able to achieve that feat. I think he is 30 short of that 100 hundreds, I think he will be able to achieve it before he retires and I hope so and that’s the target he will have in his mind,” Pathan added.

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