Virat Kohli Is Likely to Surpass Sachin Tendulkar in This Record: A Shift in India’s Cricketing Legacy
By now, the comparison between Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar has become a recurring conversation among cricket fans. While it’s often tricky to compare players across eras, the debate surrounding Kohli’s pursuit of Tendulkar’s legendary records intensifies with every match. And with the highly anticipated clash between India and New Zealand just around the corner, there’s one particular milestone in sight where Kohli seems destined to eclipse Tendulkar: the number of ODI centuries.
Tendulkar’s 49 ODI centuries stood as an untouchable benchmark for over a decade, but as of now, Kohli sits tantalizingly close to the mark, just one or two innings away from matching or surpassing the Master Blaster’s tally. The idea that Kohli could dethrone Tendulkar from this hallowed statistic is not just a possibility anymore—it’s an impending reality. But should this record define who the greatest Indian batsman of all time truly is?
The Kohli Era: Easier Path to Greatness?
One of the major arguments against Kohli’s chase of Tendulkar’s record is the context of modern-day cricket. Today, the game has become more batsman-friendly. Pitches, especially in ODI cricket, are flatter, the boundaries shorter, and powerplays have given batters more freedom to dominate bowlers. Critics argue that Tendulkar amassed his runs in an era where bowlers like Glenn McGrath, Wasim Akram, and Muttiah Muralitharan were at their peak, while Kohli has faced lesser bowling attacks due to frequent squad rotations and workload management.
Even the sheer number of matches played today tips the scales in Kohli’s favor. With jam-packed schedules, there’s more opportunity for modern players to pile on centuries. Tendulkar, despite playing 463 ODIs, had far fewer matches to work with earlier in his career compared to Kohli’s era, where the T20 format’s rise has changed how players adapt and approach ODIs.
But Numbers Don’t Lie, Do They?
Then there’s the cold, hard truth: records are meant to be broken. Kohli has mastered the art of chasing totals, thriving under pressure in ways that very few cricketers have. He has consistently scored centuries at an unmatched rate, often in crunch situations. His fitness levels, his hunger, and his ability to pace an innings have made him the most reliable ODI batsman in the world for over a decade. Can that be ignored simply because the game has evolved?
Moreover, Kohli’s longevity and adaptability across all three formats make his potential achievement all the more impressive. Unlike Tendulkar, Kohli has also excelled in T20 cricket, balancing three formats with a remarkable level of consistency, and his dominance shows no sign of fading, even at the age of 35.
The Emotional Toll of Passing Tendulkar
For Indian fans, Tendulkar is not just a cricketer but a symbol of hope, unity, and national pride. For two decades, Sachin was the beating heart of Indian cricket. Kohli, on the other hand, has often polarized fans with his aggressive on-field demeanor, his confrontations with opposition players, and his ruthless competitive spirit. As much as Kohli’s brilliance cannot be denied, there remains a sentimental attachment to Tendulkar that may never fade, regardless of how many records Kohli breaks.
In fact, many will argue that even if Kohli surpasses Tendulkar in centuries or runs, he will never surpass him in greatness. Sachin carried the burden of a nation through the 90s and early 2000s, when Indian cricket was far less dominant than it is today. Kohli, however, has benefited from the success of the Indian Premier League (IPL), better infrastructure, and more opportunities to hone his craft alongside world-class athletes in a globalized cricket economy.
Can Kohli Truly Surpass Tendulkar’s Legacy?
While Kohli may soon eclipse Tendulkar