Wasim Jaffer tips Virat Kohli to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 International tons

Former Indian Test opener Wasim Jaffer has backed Virat Kohli to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 International tons. Kohli scored his 82nd century across formats in the high-stakes clash against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy in Dubai on Sunday.

This was Kohli’s 51st ODI century and he now has two more hundreds than Sachin Tendulkar in the 50-over version. Kohli also became the fastest to reach the milestone of 14000 ODI runs, getting to the landmark in 287 innings and breaking Tendulkar’s record of 350 innings.

Kohli has performed consistently in ODIs but his form in the red-ball format has taken a dip in the last five years.

“As a cricket fan, you want to see Virat as much as you can. With the form he was in (against Pakistan), nobody wants to see him get out. When he makes runs everybody is happy, and I am sure everyone wants Virat to play for 3-4 more years and break all records,” Jaffer said during the launch of a corporate cricket league, here on Wednesday.

“The century record is one that looks like Virat is going to break. When Sachin Tendulkar made 100 centuries it looked it will never be broken but the way Virat made runs since 2010 it looks like he will break that impossible thing. If Virat breaks that Sachin Tendulkar will also be very happy,” he added.

Meanwhile former domestic giant showered praise on Shubman Gill for his consistent performances but feels it is unfair to compare the youngster with Virat Kohli.

“It will be unfair on Shubman to judge him with Virat Kohli, Shubman is making his own road. He is playing terrific cricket. In the England series, he was man-of-the-series, he made a good start to the Champions Trophy and I hope he will continue because everybody has expectations from him. He and the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal are going to take Indian batting forward,” he shared.

Gill has scored 2734 runs in 52 ODI matches at an impressive average of 62.14. India will next take on New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on 2nd March.