Virat Kohli entered the semi‑final of the 2023 Cricket World Cup already on a historic trajectory. In that match he recorded his 50th One‑Day International (ODI) hundred, overtaking his idol Sachin Tendulkar’s previous record of 49 centuries in the format. The innings not only gave Kohli a personal milestone but also placed him within reach of Tendulkar’s ultimate benchmark – 100 international centuries – a mark that still stands as the sport’s most coveted batting achievement.
Since that semi‑final, the equation has shifted. Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on 12 May 2025, and his T20 International career had already concluded. Consequently, ODI cricket now represents his sole avenue to add to his century tally. As of the latest data, Kohli has amassed 86 ODI centuries. He therefore needs 14 more to equal Tendulkar’s total and 15 to move beyond it.
Current Century Count and Recent Form
Kohli’s most recent hundred came as a commanding 139 not out against the West Indies in the first match of a three‑game series that has just concluded. He followed that effort with a modest 29 in the second ODI and was dismissed without scoring – a golden duck – in the third. Those three performances illustrate both his capacity for big scores and the variability that can accompany any batting stint.
Beyond the immediate series, Kohli’s broader ODI record reveals a pronounced home‑and‑away split. In his last 32 ODIs played on Indian soil, he has compiled nine centuries. By contrast, in his last 32 overseas ODIs he has reached three centuries, those coming in Dubai, Chattogram and Colombo. The overseas tally is still impressive: of his 55 ODI centuries, 27 have been scored outside India. Bangladesh has proved most fruitful, yielding six centuries, while Sri Lanka and Australia have each produced five. He has also logged four centuries in the West Indies, three in South Africa, and a single hundred in each of New Zealand, England, Zimbabwe and the United Arab Emirates.
Against Sri Lanka, Kohli has been especially prolific, registering ten ODI centuries – the highest number he has against any opponent. This statistic underscores his ability to dominate a traditional rival, a factor that may prove relevant in the upcoming fixtures.
Schedule Ahead of the 2027 World Cup
India’s cricket board has confirmed eleven bilateral ODI matches that will take place before the 2027 World Cup. The series breakdown includes five matches against New Zealand, three against Sri Lanka and three against Zimbabwe. The World Cup itself is slated to begin on 7 October 2027 in Cape Town, with India opening the tournament against Australia.
In addition to the confirmed bilateral series, there is a possibility of a six‑match ODI series in South Africa in the weeks leading up to the World Cup. This series would provide the Indian side – and Kohli in particular – an opportunity to acclimatise to South African conditions, though it has not yet been added to the official schedule.
The 2027 Asia Cup, scheduled for 18 June to 4 July in Bangladesh, is expected to revert to the ODI format. While the exact fixture list remains unannounced, the tournament’s structure from 2023 suggests that a team reaching the final could play up to six matches. Should India advance to the final, those games would add to Kohli’s potential century‑chasing calendar.
At the World Cup itself, a team that progresses through the group stage, the Super 7 phase and into the knockout rounds could play a maximum of 13 matches – five in the group, six in the Super 7, followed by a semi‑final and final. If India reaches the final, Kohli could have up to 13 World Cup innings to add to his tally.
Summing the confirmed bilateral ODIs (11), the prospective Asia Cup matches (up to 6) and the maximum World Cup fixtures (13) yields a theoretical ceiling of 30 ODI opportunities before the tournament concludes. The target for Kohli remains clear: fifteen more centuries to move past Tendulkar’s 100‑century mark.
World Cup Pedigree and the Final Push
Kohli’s World Cup credentials provide a strong foundation for his pursuit. Across 37 World Cup matches he has accumulated 1,795 runs at an average of 59.83, including five centuries and twelve half‑centuries. The 2023 edition was particularly productive: he scored 765 runs, registered three centuries and six fifties, and finished as the tournament’s leading run‑scorer. It was also during that World Cup that he notched his 50th ODI century, overtaking Tendulkar’s previous record of 49.
Beyond World Cups, Kohli has already crossed the 15,000‑run milestone in ODIs, achieving the feat in his 303rd innings. Only Tendulkar has previously reached that landmark, underscoring Kohli’s standing among the all‑time greats. With his Test and T20I careers now behind him, every future international hundred will inevitably come in the ODI format.
In public statements, Kohli has indicated that the 2027 World Cup will be his last appearance at the tournament for India. That declaration adds a sense of finality to the quest: the window to surpass Tendulkar’s record is narrowing, and the upcoming series, the Asia Cup and the World Cup itself constitute the final set of platforms on which he can achieve the required fifteen centuries.
Given the blend of confirmed fixtures, potential series and the maximum number of World Cup matches, Kohli’s path to 101 international centuries is mathematically possible but demanding. He must convert a significant proportion of the remaining opportunities into big scores, a challenge amplified by the historical split between his home and overseas performances. Nevertheless, his record of centuries in diverse conditions – including ten in Bangladesh, five each in Sri Lanka and Australia, and centuries on three different sub‑continents – suggests that he possesses the adaptability required to meet the task.
As the cricketing calendar unfolds toward 2027, the focus will remain on whether Kohli can translate his experience, skill and determination into the fifteen additional ODI hundreds needed to become the first batter in history to surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s iconic 100‑century milestone.
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