Virat Kohli, the modern-day master, stands as a cricketing colossus, his name etched in the record books with over 27,000 international runs. With 84 centuries across all formats, he occupies the second spot in the list of batsmen with the most international hundreds, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar's monumental 100. Of these 84, 30 are in Test cricket, 53 in One Day Internationals (ODIs), and 1 in Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). However, the journey to surpass Tendulkar has been fraught with periods of drought and near misses, leaving fans wondering why the "King" hasn't yet reached the coveted 100 mark.
One significant factor lies in the inevitable fluctuations of form that affect even the greatest athletes. Kohli experienced a notable century drought, with a gap of 1,021 days between his century against Bangladesh in November 2019 and his next against Afghanistan in September 2022. This dry spell, a subject of much debate and scrutiny, highlighted the challenges of maintaining peak performance consistently over an extended career.
Adding to the narrative are the "nervous nineties" – a phenomenon where batsmen falter on the cusp of a century. Kohli has fallen in the 90s eight times in his ODI career. The most recent instance occurred on January 11, 2026, against New Zealand, when he was dismissed for 93. While this suggests a potential vulnerability, it's important to note that Kohli's conversion rate remains impressive. He already holds the record for the most number of centuries in ODI cricket with 53.
The pressure of expectations, particularly in a cricket-crazy nation like India, can also play a role. Kohli has consistently emphasized that his priority is winning games for India, not personal milestones. This selfless approach, while admirable, may sometimes lead to aggressive shot selection or a lapse in concentration when nearing a century, as was evident in the recent match against New Zealand.
Another factor to consider is Kohli's evolving role within the Indian team. Having retired from Test and T20I cricket, he is now primarily focused on ODIs. While this allows him to channel his energy and experience into the format where he arguably excels the most, it also reduces the opportunities to score international centuries.
Despite these challenges, the possibility of Kohli reaching 100 international centuries remains a tantalizing prospect. To achieve this feat, he would need a sustained run of form, reminiscent of his peak years between 2016 and 2019. Realistically, if Kohli maintains a strong scoring rate, he could add another 8-10 centuries before the 2027 World Cup, potentially placing him in the 90-94 range. Whether he can then bridge the remaining gap remains to be seen, but as long as he continues to don the Indian jersey, the chase for history will continue.
