There are centuries, and then there are Virat Kohli centuries, the kind that arrive in pairs, generate headlines before stumps are even drawn, and force every expert in the studio to sit up with the urgency of a last-over DRS call. His 135 in the first ODI set the mood; his 102 in the second ODI confirmed it wasn’t a mood at all, it was a message.
At 37, when most batters are negotiating farewell tours, Kohli is casually stacking his 53rd ODI hundred and 84th overall, sprinting between the wickets like he’s chasing a Super Over target, and throwing in hook shots for six just to remind everyone he still has toys left in the box.
So naturally, the experts had big things to say. Below, we break down the top 3 most impactful expert reactions and what they tell us about Kohli’s current phase.
Sunil Gavaskar’s Verdict: Confidence That Felt Inevitable
Sunil Gavaskar didn’t tiptoe around it; this hundred looked predestined. From the moment Kohli opened his account with a hook for six (a rare aerial shot for him early in an innings), Gavaskar sensed something unusual: a batter playing as if continuing yesterday’s knock.
To Gavaskar, the hundred wasn’t crafted; it unfolded. The conviction in footwork, the willingness to dictate the tempo, and the calmness of his body language all pointed to a batter overflowing with carryover confidence from Ranchi. The “unless something unfortunate happens” line wasn’t hyperbole; it was the most accurate reading of Kohli’s aura that night.
For a man who has watched generations of batters chase milestones, Gavaskar’s reaction stands out because he read the century not as a statistical event, but as the feeling of inevitability only greats can generate.
Aakash Chopra’s Call: The Century Machine Still Upgrading
Aakash Chopra didn’t just praise the innings; he cracked open a headline that dominated every cricket space in the next 24 hours: “Kohli can reach 100 international hundreds.”
Ambitious? Yes. Impossible? Chopra doesn’t think so.
Chopra believes that with Kohli being around 16 to 18 years removed from playing for India, depending on how they divide their formats, and assuming India will play around 40 more international matches before the 2027 World Cup, both the timing and temperament appear right for Chopra to see him as a candidate to be selected for India again. In addition, the measured, tactical, and decisive way Kohli played in the second One-Day International reinforced Chopra’s belief that Kohli has moved into a form of experienced player that also shows an aggressive form of batting control.
Aakash Chopra’s reaction didn’t rely on emotion; it leaned on pattern recognition. Every time Kohli is doubted, he returns with a purple patch. This series feels like the beginning of another one.
Zaheer Khan’s Take: The Strike-Rate Shift That Changes Everything
Zaheer Khan wasn’t fixated on the hundred itself; he zoomed in on something subtler but far more consequential: Kohli’s strike-rate.
A strike-rate of 109.68 in the second ODI isn’t merely efficiency; it’s evolution. According to Zaheer, Kohli’s willingness to attack early, rotate aggressively, and put bowlers under pressure from ball one is a conscious shift, not a passing experiment.
For years, critics pointed at his “middle-over conservatism.” This series flipped the script. With seven boundaries and two sixes, Kohli controlled the innings without ever slipping into stagnancy. And that 195-run partnership with Ruturaj? Zaheer saw it not as a duet but as evidence of Kohli driving a refreshed tempo for India’s ODI blueprint.
Zaheer’s reaction matters because he doesn’t dramatize; he diagnoses. And his diagnosis is clear: Kohli is batting with liberated intent again.
Virat Kohli’s back-to-back hundreds weren’t just performances; they were declarations. Declarations that he is not fading, not coasting, and certainly not giving way to the next generation just to satisfy a narrative. From Gavaskar’s certainty to Chopra’s optimism to Zaheer’s tactical read, a pattern emerges: experts aren’t praising a legend for reputation’s sake, they’re reacting to present-tense dominance.
Key Takeaway
Kohli’s consecutive hundreds weren’t a resurgence; they were a reminder.
FAQs
- What makes Kohli’s recent hundreds different from earlier phases?
His strike-rate, early intent, and tactical aggression have all shifted upward.
- Why are experts predicting more milestones for him now?
Because his fitness, form, and batting clarity have aligned in a way that mirrors his best years.
- How does this form impact India’s ODI strategy?
It re-centers the batting order around proactive scoring rather than consolidation.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.
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