Widely regarded as one of the finest batters of the modern era, Virat Kohli is only two hundreds away from breaking the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's astonishing record of 49 ODI centuries.

Kohli is currently plying his trade in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 at home. He has been in terrific form with the bat in the marquee event, amassing 354 runs from six innings at an average of 88.50, including one hundred and three half-centuries.

The star Indian batter scored 95 against New Zealand in Dharamsala, five runs short of equalling Tendulkar's tally of ODI tons.

Kohli may have come so close to Tendulkar, but he had never thought of accumulating so many runs and hundreds when he started his career.

"If we talk about cricket, I had never thought of achieving all, as in where my career is and how god has blessed me (with) such a career span and performances," Kohli told Star Sports.

"I had always dreamt I'd do this, but I had never thought things would pan out this way exactly. Nobody can plan these things, the way your journey is going, and the way things unfold in front of you. I hadn't thought that I'd score so many hundreds and so many runs in these 12 years," he added.

Kohli, who will turn 35 on November 5, attributed his success to the change he brought in his "discipline and lifestyle".

"My only focus was that I should perform well for the team and win games for the team from difficult situations. For that, I made quite a few changes along the way regarding discipline and lifestyle," Kohli said.

"I always had the drive in me, but I lacked the professionalism. Now, I have a single-minded focus on how I want to play the game, and after that, the results I've achieved are from playing that way itself," he further stated.

Kohli, who has 13,000+ ODI runs to his name, said the honest effort put in by a cricketer is always recognised by the sport.

"The game recognises effort. Honestly, that's what I have learnt from my career.

"I've played cricket by giving my hundred per cent on the field, and the blessings I have got from it have been given to me by God, and I had never thought things would have unfolded this way," he said.

Virat Kohli will be next seen in action in India’s World Cup 2023 match against Sri Lanka in Mumbai on November 2.