Former Indian opening batter
Kohli, who currently focuses his international efforts on the ODI format, has accumulated 86 centuries to date. To surpass Tendulkar’s record, he would require 15 additional hundreds. Tendulkar achieved his historic total of 100 centuries—comprising 51 in Test cricket and 49 in ODIs—across a career spanning 664 international appearances between 1989 and 2013. Kohli’s current distribution of centuries includes 55 in ODIs, 30 in the Test arena, and one in T20 Internationals.
Assessing India's white-ball depth and future concerns
Beyond the discussion surrounding Kohli’s record, Chopra also addressed the current state of India’s bowling attack. When asked to identify the country's premier white-ball fast bowler outside of Jasprit Bumrah, Chopra highlighted Arshdeep Singh. Arshdeep has established himself as a prolific wicket-taker in the T20I format, claiming 140 wickets in 94 matches. However, his transition to the 50-over format remains a work in progress, with only 18 ODI appearances since his debut against New Zealand in November 2022, leaving his status for the 2027 World Cup squad uncertain.
Chopra also pointed to the fitness of all-rounder Hardik Pandya as a significant point of concern for the Indian ODI setup. Pandya has been absent from competitive cricket since the conclusion of the 2026 Indian Premier League. His most recent appearance for the national side occurred during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad on March 8, 2026. With India currently holding an unassailable 2-0 lead in their ongoing ODI series against the West Indies, the team prepares for the final match at the New Chandigarh Stadium this Saturday.
