Virat Kohli will break Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most ODI centuries, according to Gavaskar’s audacious IPL prediction.

Virat Kohli battled for a century throughout the course of 80 or so international innings spread over 1028 days. But since escaping the chains in September of last year, Kohli has amassed four international tonnes in just 22 innings, three of which came in ODIs over the course of just four games. The debate over when, not if, Kohli would be able to beat Sachin Tendulkar’s ODI century record has been resurrected once more now that he is very much alive and returning. Sunil Gavaskar, a former captain of India, too made a strong “IPL” statement by making the major forecast.

In the third and final ODI of the series against Sri Lanka on Sunday, Virat Kohli notched his 46th ODI century en route to his undefeated 166, which gave India the victory and a 317-run victory margin to complete the series sweep. The question of “when” changed to “when” Kohli would be able to surpass Sachin’s record of 49 ODI tonnes when he was stuck on 43 between August 2019 and November 2022. 

Gavaskar, speaking with Sports Tak, anticipated that it might occur before the start of the upcoming IPL season, but Kohli has resumed his duty of scoring hundreds at will and has smashed three tonnes in only four innings. Before the IPL, India plays three one-day internationals against New Zealand and then three more against Australia. Given Kohli’s current form, the former India captain may end up at the top of the elite ODI rankings, Gavaskar noted.

“The form that he is in, the way that he is playing right now…now we have three matches against New Zealand and three more against Australia. So we have six ODIs before IPL. And all he needs his three centuries. The way he is batting right now, why shouldn’t we feel that those three hundreds happen before the IPL,” he said. The New Zealand series begins from January 18 onwards.