- After his Test retirement, Virat Kohli is still in the race to break Sachin Tendulkar’s iconic record of 100 international centuries.
- With 82 international hundreds to his name, Kohli needs 18 more centuries to equal the Master Blaster’s iconic milestone.
Virat Kohli’s journey toward cricketing immortality isn’t over just yet. After bidding farewell to T20Is last year following India’s title win in the 2024 T20 World Cup, and recently announcing his retirement from Test cricket, Kohli now has just one international format left—ODIs. The big question on everyone’s mind: can he still break Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 international centuries?
With 82 international hundreds to his name (51 in ODIs, 30 in Tests, and 1 in T20Is), Kohli needs 18 more centuries to equal the Master Blaster’s iconic milestone. But with ODIs being the only active format for him now, the road ahead is steep—and limited.
How can Virat Kohli reach 100 centuries?
A realistic roadmap
As mentioned above, Kohli currently sits on 82 international centuries and in the current landscape where ODIs are played less frequently, Kohli’s task becomes even more challenging. With the rise of T20 leagues and a packed Test calendar, bilateral ODI series are becoming rarer. This reduces the number of opportunities he gets to bat and convert starts into big scores. As a result, every innings now carries more weight in his quest to reach the 100-century mark. Now let’s understand how this is possible, or at least not entirely impossible:
1. ODI format still suits his game
Kohli has always thrived in the 50-over format. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest ODI batters ever, with a ridiculous average of over 57.88. Even at 36, his ability to pace an innings, rotate strike, and finish games remains unmatched. His 51 ODI hundreds have come across 292 matches. That’s one century every 5.7 innings on average.
But in recent years, his frequency has improved. In 2023 alone, he scored 6 ODI tons, including three in the World Cup—proof that his hunger hasn’t declined. If he keeps scoring at the same strike rate, he could realistically notch 15–18 centuries in the next 3–4 years, provided he plays consistently.
2. The 2027 World Cup
If Kohli chooses to continue till the 2027 ODI World Cup, he’ll have at least 3 more full years in the format. India will play around 27 ODIs until then, and more could be added based on bilateral series, Asia Cups, and Champions Trophy-like tournaments. Assuming Kohli features in 25 out of those 27 ODIs, and plays 6–8 ODIs annually after that, fans may see him at 35–40 ODIs before retirement.
To get to 100 tons from 82, he needs 18 ODI centuries in 35–40 matches — a near impossible rate for most, but not entirely out of Kohli’s range if he has a purple patch.
3. Kohli and big tournaments – A love story
Kohli’s biggest strength is his ability to perform in ICC tournaments. With the World Cup 2027 on the calendar, India are set to play high-pressure games—exactly the kind where Kohli thrives. In the 2023 ODI World Cup, he smashed 3 centuries, and if he can continue that trend in ICC events, a handful of hundreds could come just from global tournaments.
4. Kohli’s fitness and mental resilience
Few athletes in world sport match Kohli’s fitness standards. At 36, he’s in better shape than many 28-year-olds, which means he can continue playing at peak levels for a few more years. Mentally, he’s shown time and again that he’s built for longevity and comebacks. With the burden of multi-format cricket now lifted, Kohli can focus entirely on one format, reduce burnout, and maximize output.
- Akshat Gaur
