Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has backed Virat Kohli to overtake Sachin Tendulkar’s ODI century tally in the ongoing year. Kohli scored his 45th ODI ton against Sri Lanka at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati on Tuesday as he scored a fine knock of 113 runs off just 87 balls.
Meanwhile, Sachin scored 49 ODI centuries in his glorious ODI career of 463 matches. Thus, Kohli needs another five ODI centuries to surpass his idol’s tally in the 50-overs format.
Kohli started 2023 with a bang as he was at his best against the visitors. The talisman scored a dozen fours and one six to bring up his 73rd International century. Kohli’s piece de resistance knock had powered India to a gigantic total of 373 runs.
Speaking on Star Sports, Mohammad Kaif said, “He can make 60 as well. There are a lot of matches to be played in India if you include the World Cup as well – the form he has currently, they play on good pitches and he bats through the innings. The record will definitely be broken, that is certain, but it needs to be seen how soon he does that.”
Kaif backed Kohli to score 55 to 60 centuries as the 34-year-old is at the top of his fitness.
“I feel he can probably reach 55 to 60 as well considering the form with which he is playing. He doesn’t get tired, he is No. 1 in fitness and he has been given the right name of ‘Run Machine’. He likes staying on the pitch and scoring runs in the Indian jersey. We didn’t see any lack of passion.”
Kohli has always been a consistent performer in the ODI format and his records speak for himself. Out of the 45 centuries he has scored in the 50-overs version, 37 have come in the winning cause.
Kaif, who is well known for his NatWest final knock against England, added Kohli is a perfect example of how to make the most of his form.
“However much you might practice, the runs you score on the pitch bring you a different confidence. When you score runs, you get the form. How to use the form – Virat Kohli is in front of you. It was a bad phase but once he scored a century against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup, leave aside the Test matches, he has scored in every innings in white-ball cricket.”
“He has won big matches and defeated Pakistan on his own. Now he has scored back-to-back hundreds. He needs to be in form if you have to win the World Cup trophy. Virat Kohli knows how to carry his form forward.”
India will play the second ODI against Sri Lanka on Thursday.
