'If he thinks about 100 centuries': Ajinkya Rahane reveals if Virat Kohli can reach the milestone
toi
newspoint|01-10-2026
Virat Kohli 's latest ODI masterclass has once again brought the possibility of him reaching 100 international centuries into focus, with former India teammate Ajinkya Rahane backing the veteran batter to achieve the landmark if he sets his mind to it.
Kohli produced a spectacular unbeaten 139 off 88 balls in the first ODI against West Indies , powering India to an eight-wicket victory while chasing 296 with 50 balls to spare. The 37-year-old struck nine sixes, the most he has hit in a single innings in his career, on his way to his 55th ODI century and 86th international hundred.
While Kohli has made it clear that personal milestones are not what drive him, Rahane believes the former India captain's ability to put pressure on himself could help him chase down the elusive three-figure mark.
“I think when Virat Kohli puts pressure on himself, that is when he is at his best. In every innings, he has done that. He has those expectations of himself. That is why he has been able to do it consistently for so many years," Rahane said on Cricbuzz.
Kohli's attacking approach has also become increasingly evident since his retirement from Test cricket. The batter has shown a greater willingness to take risks early in his innings, rather than spending a longer period settling in.
Before 2025, Kohli's strike rate during the first 10 balls of his innings was a little above 72. That figure has now climbed beyond 100. The first signs of the change were visible during the series against South Africa, and he has continued with the more aggressive approach since then.
With Kohli now playing only ODI cricket for India, he has roughly 30 matches remaining to score another 14 centuries and reach 100 international hundreds. Only Sachin Tendulkar has previously achieved the landmark.
Rahane feels there is no reason for Kohli to shy away from thinking about the target, particularly given Tendulkar 's influence on his career.
"Knowing Virat, if he thinks about 100 centuries, there is nothing wrong with it, because his role model has been Sachin Tendulkar. So, I am sure he must be thinking about it. If he thinks about it, only Virat Kohli can achieve that,” he added.
Rahane also rejected the idea that a batter thinking about a statistical milestone necessarily means he is putting individual achievement ahead of the team.
“Many times, we think that if a player is thinking about milestones, that means he is selfish. But when Virat Kohli puts pressure on himself, that is when he does well. So, I am sure he will have a number on his mind, but at the same time, he will also have the thought that he has to enjoy the game as long as he is playing,” said Rahane.
Kohli produced a spectacular unbeaten 139 off 88 balls in the first ODI against West Indies , powering India to an eight-wicket victory while chasing 296 with 50 balls to spare. The 37-year-old struck nine sixes, the most he has hit in a single innings in his career, on his way to his 55th ODI century and 86th international hundred.
While Kohli has made it clear that personal milestones are not what drive him, Rahane believes the former India captain's ability to put pressure on himself could help him chase down the elusive three-figure mark.
“I think when Virat Kohli puts pressure on himself, that is when he is at his best. In every innings, he has done that. He has those expectations of himself. That is why he has been able to do it consistently for so many years," Rahane said on Cricbuzz.
Kohli's attacking approach has also become increasingly evident since his retirement from Test cricket. The batter has shown a greater willingness to take risks early in his innings, rather than spending a longer period settling in.
Before 2025, Kohli's strike rate during the first 10 balls of his innings was a little above 72. That figure has now climbed beyond 100. The first signs of the change were visible during the series against South Africa, and he has continued with the more aggressive approach since then.
With Kohli now playing only ODI cricket for India, he has roughly 30 matches remaining to score another 14 centuries and reach 100 international hundreds. Only Sachin Tendulkar has previously achieved the landmark.
Rahane feels there is no reason for Kohli to shy away from thinking about the target, particularly given Tendulkar 's influence on his career.
"Knowing Virat, if he thinks about 100 centuries, there is nothing wrong with it, because his role model has been Sachin Tendulkar. So, I am sure he must be thinking about it. If he thinks about it, only Virat Kohli can achieve that,” he added.
Rahane also rejected the idea that a batter thinking about a statistical milestone necessarily means he is putting individual achievement ahead of the team.
“Many times, we think that if a player is thinking about milestones, that means he is selfish. But when Virat Kohli puts pressure on himself, that is when he does well. So, I am sure he will have a number on his mind, but at the same time, he will also have the thought that he has to enjoy the game as long as he is playing,” said Rahane.
