New Delhi: For over a decade, world cricket has lived with one compelling question — will Virat Kohli ever surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s iconic milestone of 100 international centuries?
Kohli’s back-to-back centuries against South Africa have undoubtedly reignited the debate, pushing his tally to 84, yet the reality is more defined than ever. Now 37, Kohli features in only one international format. He ended his Test journey with 30 hundreds, bowed out of T20Is with one, and continues to rule ODIs with 53 centuries — the most by any batter in history.
But despite the accolades, Kohli still needs 16 more to reach Tendulkar’s summit. On paper, 16 doesn’t sound impossible — in context, it feels highly improbable.
Tendulkar’s legacy isn’t just shaped by numbers but by longevity. He played 664 international matches over 24 years and retired at 40. Kohli, on the other hand, stepped away from two formats before turning 37 and is now solely focused on ODIs, with eyes firmly set on the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup.
Fans may continue to dream, but with limited formats, shrinking calendar space and advancing age, Kohli’s path to 100 looks steeper than ever. Cricket experts agree: if he remains fit and keeps scoring, the numbers will rise — but overtaking Tendulkar’s century mountain feels farther today than it ever did.
