Virat Kohli ended his much-talked-about century drought in the longest format in the recently held Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.
Kohli, who hasn’t hit a Test ton since November 2019, slammed 186 in the fourth and final Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
It was the 28th hundred of Virat’s Test career and his 75th in international cricket, becoming only the second batter in the history of the game to reach the mark after the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
Once touted to break Tendulkar’s 100 international tons record, Kohli endured an extended lean patch over the last three years. Hence, the talks around the same had died down a bit.
However, Virat Kohli seems to have found his old mojo back now as he has already smashed three international centuries in 2023. Hence, former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson believes the 100-century mark is not that far for Kohli.
"It's incredible what he (Virat) has been able to achieve. He will continue to achieve. It took time for him to get to a Test century, but it was just a matter of time for him. He is a classy player, and he is incredibly good. He will soon score another century. He is just amazing," Watson told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive chat.
"Virat's record speaks for itself at this point of time. He is in top form. His career still has a long way to go. It is hard to believe when you see his statistics and he has bright chances of getting 100 international hundreds. Sachin is the only cricketer to do that. Virat is phenomenal and has a number of years with him in cricket," he added.
Indian cricket team has moved close to the ICC titles since Champions Trophy 2013 triumph, but they couldn't get one for a long time.
With less than 10 months to go for the ODI World Cup in India, the Men in Blue are considered firm favourites to end the ICC trophy drought.
According to Watson, all-rounder Hardik Pandya will play a key role for the team in the World Cup this year.
"For me, the person who has impressed me a lot as an all-rounder and is very special is Hardik Pandya. His body hasn't allowed him to play too much Test cricket, but he certainly has the skills to dominate Test cricket. He has got an amazing batting technique and he bowls very nicely as well. He has done wonders for India in the one-dayers and T20Is. He is someone I really love watching play. His skills are amazing," Watson stated.
"He (Hardik) is someone who brings some things I wanted to do as a fast-bowling all-rounder. He has done well for India, especially on the big stage. He is a special talent (that) India has," he further remarked.
"Hardik will be a key player for Rohit in the World Cup. With his skills with the bat, power and technique (that) he has, the bowling power he has, he will be the key player for India in the World Cup," he concluded.
