Former Australian captain Aaron Finch believes that once Virat Kohli surpasses Sachin Tendulkar's record of most ODI hundreds, it will be an immensely challenging feat for others to catch up. At present, Kohli, aged 35, is just one century short of equalling Tendulkar's record, boasting an impressive 48 ODI hundreds to his name.
Kohli came close to reaching this historic milestone in a recent World Cup match against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. He was unfortunately dismissed by Dilshan Madushanka when he was tantalizingly close, just 12 runs short of the record.
Finch, who recently retired from international cricket, was unequivocal in his assessment that Virat Kohli is the greatest ODI batsman of all time. He went on to suggest that once Kohli surpasses Sachin Tendulkar, the record may remain unchallenged for a very long time.
"Whether it happens today or not, it's irrelevant. When you look back and judge his career as a whole, he is by far the best player of all time in this format of the game in my opinion," Finch was quoted as saying on Star Sports.
"49 or 50, no one will break it after this, I am pretty sure of that. I am sure no one will break it once Virat breaks Sachin's record," he added.
The India-South Africa match on November 5 at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata presents Kohli with an opportunity to break this monumental record. At present, India tops the World Cup 2023 table with an unbeaten streak of seven wins.
Kohli's remarkable form in this World Cup is already evident, as he achieved a century against Bangladesh at the MCA Stadium in Pune. He currently ranks third among the leading run-scorers in the tournament, amassing an impressive 442 runs from seven matches, with an average of 88.40 and a strike rate of 89.47, featuring one century and four half-centuries.
Aaron Finch's admiration for Virat Kohli's exceptional talent and acknowledgment of his potential record-breaking achievement highlight the collective recognition in the cricketing world of Kohli's remarkable abilities and his capacity to leave an indelible mark in the history of ODI cricket.
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