Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli once again demonstrated his exceptional batting prowess, edging closer to one of the most coveted records in cricket. On Sunday, at Holkar Stadium in Indore, Kohli came to the rescue of a struggling Indian side against New Zealand in the third and final match of the ongoing three-match ODI series. Displaying remarkable skill and composure, he reached a personal milestone by scoring a century, bringing his total international centuries to 85 across formats.
With legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar holding the record of 100 international centuries, Kohli now requires 15 more to equal this historic landmark. Already retired from both Test cricket and Twenty20 internationals, Kohli is currently focusing exclusively on the One Day International format. Analysts note that stepping away from Tests and T20s so early may have made achieving the 100-century mark more challenging. Had he continued to play in multiple formats, reaching the milestone could have been significantly easier.
Despite these limitations, Kohli remains in excellent form. In this match, he faced 91 deliveries and expertly guided India’s innings, transforming a precarious situation into a solid total. Notably, in the first ODI of the series, Kohli narrowly missed a century by just seven runs—a disappointment he successfully erased in this latest encounter. His innings not only contributed to his personal tally but also inspired the team in a critical moment.
The distribution of Kohli’s international centuries across formats is summarised below:
| Format | Centuries Scored | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Test | 27 | Retired |
| ODI | 58 | Active |
| T20I | 0 | Retired |
| Total | 85 | – |
Cricket commentators have praised Kohli’s consistency and resilience, emphasising that his pursuit of the 100-century milestone is still very much achievable. The veteran batsman’s ability to deliver under pressure continues to cement his reputation as one of the finest players of his generation. For fans and aspiring cricketers alike, Kohli’s journey offers a model of discipline, perseverance, and brilliance.
As the cricketing world watches, the question remains: when will Virat Kohli finally reach the monumental 100-century mark? One thing is certain—every innings brings him one step closer to joining the annals of cricketing immortality alongside Sachin Tendulkar.