During India's semi-final match against New Zealand in the 50-over World Cup, Virat Kohli achieved his 80th international century, a milestone witnessed by his idol, Sachin Tendulkar. This feat reignited discussions about whether Kohli could eventually surpass Tendulkar's record of 100 international centuries. Brian Lara, the celebrated West Indian cricketer, weighed in on this debate, acknowledging the significant challenge ahead for Kohli.
Lara, in a conversation with Anandabazar Patrika, highlighted the demanding nature of Kohli's pursuit. He pointed out that Kohli, currently 35 years old, would need to maintain a high level of performance for several more years. "If he scores five centuries every year he’d need four more years to equal Tendulkar. Kohli will be 39 then. Tough job, very tough job,” Lara remarked.
Lara also expressed caution about making predictions, considering the enormity of the task. He noted that amassing 20 more centuries is a formidable challenge, one that many cricketers don't achieve in their entire careers. However, he also shared his admiration for Kohli, expressing his desire to see him equal Tendulkar's record. "My best wishes are with him. I’d be very happy if he could score 100 centuries like Tendulkar. Sachin was a dear friend and like I said before, I’m a big fan of Kohli.”