Virat Kohli can get to 100 worldwide centuries if he can play for 5-6 extra years: Sunil Gavaskar

India vs Sri Lanka: Speaking to India Today, legendary Sunil Gavaskar mentioned Virat Kohli will have the ability to emulate Sachin Tendulkar by scoring 100 worldwide centuries if he carries on to play till 40. Kohli scored his forty sixth ODI hundred on Sunday, January 15.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 15, 2023 23:35 IST

Virat Kohli scored his forty sixth ODI hundred on January 15 (AFP Photo)

By India Today Web Desk: Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar backed Virat Kohli to go on to get 100 worldwide centuries, offered he is ready to proceed enjoying till he turns 40. The legendary batter mentioned he will not be shocked if Kohli goes on to play 5-6 extra years, contemplating his unbelievable health.

Speaking to India Today after Virat Kohli notched up his forty sixth ODI hundred, Sunil Gavaskar mentioned he’s assured that Kohli will have the ability to get to 100 worldwide a whole lot if he carries on with the starvation to attain huge and love for the sport.

Virat Kohli took his worldwide hundred tally to 74 as he has hit 3 ODI a whole lot in his final 4 knocks within the 50-over format of the sport. Kohli had ended his 3-year drought for an ODI hundred in Bangladesh in December 2022 and there was no trying again since. Kohli started the New Year with 113 vs Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad. He didn’t get going, getting out for 4 within the 2nd ODI however Kohli posted his second-highest ODI rating — 166 not out within the third ODI as India registered a 317-run win in Thiruvanthapuram on Sunday, January 15.

Kohli has scored 4 worldwide a whole lot within the final 6 months and has hit peak type in white-ball cricket within the lead-up to ODI World Cup 2023. Kohli is simply 3 a whole lot away from emulating Sachin Tendulkar’s ODI document of 49 a whole lot.

However, Kohli wants 26 extra a whole lot to equal Sachin Tendulkar’s world document of 100 worldwide a whole lot. Tendulkar had scored 51 Test a whole lot and 49 ODIs a whole lot in his profession. Kohli has 46 ODI a whole lot, a T20I century and 27 Test a whole lot.

“In case he plays, 5 or 6 years, he will get to the 100. There’s no doubt about it. His average is about 6-6 hundreds a year. So if that happens, then surely he can add another 26 hundreds in the next 5-6 years, if he plays till 40,” Gavaskar mentioned.

“Sachin Tendulkar also played till his 40s and he had kept his fitness. Kohli is very aware of his fitness. He is still, the fastest runner between wickets in this Indian team. Only when MSD was there, you could say, MS Dhoni was as quick, if not quicker. Today, at this age, he beats the youngsters hands down. Converting 1s into 2s, and 2s into 3s, he is an absolute champion at that. And not just his runs, but for his partners as well.

“So with that form of health, for him to play until 40 wouldn’t be a shock in any respect,” Gavaskar added.

LOVE FOR THE GAME IMPORTANT

Kohli has not been picked for the T20Is since the start of the New Year but the former India captain is a key member of the Royal Challengers Bangalore Indian Premier League franchise.

At 34, Kohli has spoken a lot about staying fresh and stressed the need to take breaks.

Gavaskar believes Kohli will have no problem continuing to play international cricket for another 6 years, adding that it’s the love for the game that propels a player to go that extra mile.

“I do not assume so (downside enjoying all codecs and IPL). It’s your love for the sport that sustains you. Sometimes, it is that love for the sport that retains your going for a yr or two greater than you need to.

“If your love for the game is there, you can go for a long time. When that is there, I don’t think there is any worry about lasting long,” Gavaskar added.

Kohli will look to proceed his golden run when he turns up for the 3-match ODI sequence towards New Zealand, beginning Wednesday, January 18.

Published On:

Jan 15, 2023