Virat Kohli stands poised to make cricket history as he approaches his first international match in over seven months, with the opportunity to become the first player in 148 years to hold the record for most centuries in a single format of cricket.
The Historic Record Pursuit
Current Status: Tied with Sachin Tendulkar
Kohli currently has 51 ODI centuries, matching the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 51 Test centuries. This creates a unique situation where both players are tied at the pinnacle of single-format century achievement.
Record Breakdown:
- Virat Kohli: 51 ODI centuries (needs 1 more for the record)
- Sachin Tendulkar: 51 Test centuries (retired record holder)
- Historic significance: No player in cricket’s 148-year history has held more than 51 centuries in a single format
Overall International Century Statistics
Kohli’s complete century tally :
- Total centuries: 82 international hundreds
- ODI centuries: 51 (tied record)
- Test centuries: 30
- T20I centuries: 1
Tendulkar’s career totals:
- Total centuries: 100 international hundreds
- Test centuries: 51 (single-format record holder)
- ODI centuries: 49
Australia: The Perfect Stage for History
Kohli’s Australian ODI Record
Kohli thrives in Australian conditions with impressive statistics :
- Matches: 29 ODIs
- Runs: 1,327 at average 51.03
- Strike rate: Over 89
- Centuries: 5 ODI hundreds
- Half-centuries: 6 fifties
- Best score: 133*
Recent Form Against Australia
Last five innings vs Australia: 54, 56, 85, 54, 84 – all half-centuries showing consistent performance
Last five innings in Australia: 104, 46, 21, 89, 63 – including a century in his most recent tour
Additional Australian Records
Kohli holds multiple Australian records:
- Most centuries by visiting player: 17 across all formats in Australia
- ODI centuries in Australia: 3 (can equal Rohit Sharma’s record of 4)
The Significance of This Achievement
148-Year Cricket History Context
Since cricket’s inception as an organized international sport, only two players have ever reached 50+ centuries in a single format:
- Sachin Tendulkar: 51 Test centuries
- Virat Kohli: 51 ODI centuries (current)
Breaking this record would make Kohli the sole holder of the single-format century record, a distinction no cricketer has achieved in nearly 150 years of international cricket.
Career Trajectory and Format Specialization
Kohli’s ODI dominance reflects his evolution as a format specialist:
- ODI average: 57.88 (exceptional for the format)
- ODI strike rate: 93.34 (perfectly balanced for run-scoring)
- Consistency: 74 half-centuries alongside 51 hundreds
- Peak years: Sustained excellence across different phases of his career
Current Career Phase
One-Format Player Status
Following his retirement from Tests in 2025 and T20Is after the 2024 World Cup victory, Kohli now focuses exclusively on ODI cricket. This specialization could work in his favor for achieving this milestone.
Uncertain ODI Future
Reports suggest Kohli might not continue until the 2027 World Cup, making this Australia series potentially crucial for his record-breaking aspirations.
The Perth Opportunity
Series Context
The three-match ODI series against Australia starting in Perth provides multiple opportunities for Kohli to create history. His track record in Australian conditions and recent consistent performances against Australia make this an ideal setting.
Match Situation
After a seven-month break from international cricket, Kohli returns with singular focus on ODI cricket, potentially enhancing his concentration and preparation for this historic pursuit.
Historical Impact
Legacy Implications
Breaking this record would:
- Establish Kohli as the sole holder of cricket’s most prestigious single-format milestone
- Separate him from Tendulkar in a meaningful statistical category
- Cement his status as the greatest ODI batsman in cricket history
- Create a record that may stand for decades given the rarity of such achievements
Modern Cricket Context
In an era where players often struggle to maintain consistency across formats, Kohli’s potential achievement represents the pinnacle of format specialization and sustained excellence.
Virat Kohli’s pursuit of his 52nd ODI century represents more than just another milestone—it’s an opportunity to achieve something no cricketer has accomplished in 148 years of international cricket. Standing on the threshold of becoming the sole holder of the single-format century record, Kohli’s return to Australian conditions, where he has historically excelled, provides the perfect stage for this historic achievement. With his ODI future potentially limited and his focus now exclusively on the 50-over format, the upcoming series against Australia may represent his best opportunity to etch his name into cricket’s record books in a way that transcends even the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s achievements.