Former Indian cricketer and coach Lalchand Rajput expressed his confidence in Virat Kohli’s potential to surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s remarkable record of 100 centuries in the years to come. Kohli’s recent unbeaten century against Pakistan in Dubai elevated him to the 5th position in the ICC ODI rankings and marked him as the third player to exceed 14,000 runs in One Day International cricket.
Having already surpassed Ricky Ponting in all-time run charts, Kohli is now just 149 runs short of Kumar Sangakkara, who holds the second position. However, he still trails Sachin Tendulkar by 4,341 runs, who remains at the top of the list.
Rajput stated at the launch of the book “Life Lessons from Cricket” that he had predicted early on that Kohli would break Tendulkar’s record, emphasizing Kohli’s enduring hunger and passion. He highlighted Kohli’s exceptional fitness and dedication to each run, valuing his wicket and avoiding unnecessary dismissals, which contributes to his top ranking.
India’s upcoming match against New Zealand in Dubai will mark Virat Kohli’s 300th ODI game, making him the eighth Indian player to reach this milestone. The 36-year-old is entering his 300th ODI appearance in excellent form.
Rajput also conveyed his satisfaction with India’s current performance in the ongoing mega event. He lauded Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, noting his ability to maintain a positive dressing room atmosphere. He praised Sharma’s leadership style, which empowers batsmen and fosters a lighthearted mood, referencing India’s T20 World Cup victory in the West Indies. Rajput views Sharma as a friend, philosopher, and guide for many players and anticipates further accolades for him, suggesting India has the potential to win another global trophy.
Team India will compete against New Zealand in their final group stage match at the Dubai International Stadium. They have previously encountered each other in the Champions Trophy, where New Zealand emerged victorious.
