Pathan says Kohli has both fitness and ability to achieve the feat.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan on Monday (August 24) said Virat Kohli is the only player who has the potential to break Sachin Tendulkar's world record of 100 international centuries and if this record is broken, it should be by an Indian and he would like to see Indian captain doing the same.
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Tendulkar, one of the greatest batsmen of all time, retired from the game almost seven years ago, but the master blaster’s batting records speak his batting greatness and remain ahead of all modern-day greats.
However, Tendulkar’s record of 100 international hundreds has always been a major highlight of his glittery 24-year-career, and Kohli, who has already shattered many records of Indian batting legend, looks the strongest contender to surpass this world record too.
In just 12 years at international cricket, Kohli has already 70 international hundreds to his name so far and Pathan believes that the dashing right-hander has both ability and fitness to break Tendulkar's this world record before he retires.
Pathan said on Star Sports show 'Cricket Connected': “I am sure 100 hundreds, he might (Kohli) 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.”
Former all-rounder signed off by saying, “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.”
Noteworthy, the 31-year-old Kohli has so far hit 70 international hundreds (43 in 248 ODIs and 23 in 86 Tests), while Tendulkar retired with 51 Test centuries and 49 ODI hundreds in 2013.
(With IANS Inputs)