Kohli's 100 centuries before 2027 ODI World Cup unlikely, says Nayar
Synopsis
Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has poured cold water on hopes of Virat Kohli reaching 100 international centuries before the 2027 ODI World Cup, arguing there simply aren't enough games left in the window. With Kohli on 55 ODI hundreds alone, the milestone is mathematically possible — but the calendar, and potentially motivation, may not cooperate.
Key Takeaways
Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar doubts Virat Kohli will reach 100 international centuries before the 2027 ODI World Cup .
Kohli holds 55 ODI centuries — the men's ODI record — having surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's mark of 49 .
Nayar and Cheteshwar Pujara both backed developing Nitish Kumar Reddy as a backup seam-bowling all-rounder alongside Hardik Pandya .
Nayar called for India to field two seam-bowling all-rounders in conditions like New Zealand and South Africa .
Both experts advocated a return to tri-nation and quadrangular ODI tournaments to boost preparation quality and fan engagement.
Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has expressed doubt that batting great Virat Kohli will have enough international matches remaining before the 2027 ODI World Cup to reach the landmark of 100 international centuries, even as he voiced a personal wish to see Kohli achieve the milestone.
Nayar's Assessment on Kohli's Century Milestone
Speaking to JioStar alongside former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara, Nayar was candid about the arithmetic involved. 'I don't think there are enough games for him to reach that milestone. As much as I want him to, there have to be sufficient games for you to scale also. It's possible that he may continue to play after the World Cup as well, but I am considering the period till the World Cup. After the World Cup, his motivation might not be the same either. So I don't think there's enough time till the World Cup for him to get to that,' Nayar said.
Kohli currently holds 55 ODI centuries — the most by any male batter in history — having surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's previous record of 49. He claimed his landmark 50th ODI hundred during the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final against New Zealand at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, becoming the first batter to reach that mark in the format. Across all international formats, Kohli currently stands at 81 centuries, making the sprint to 100 a formidable challenge within the available match window.
India's All-Rounder Depth: Beyond Hardik Pandya
The conversation also turned to India's ODI squad balance, with Nayar advocating for the development of a second seam-bowling all-rounder alongside Hardik Pandya. 'India should look at the future, where alongside Hardik Pandya, another all-rounder could play. When you go to New Zealand, it's possible that you have two such all-round options because Gautam Gambhir likes batters. If you groom another all-rounder, they can play together. And if India can play with two proper fast bowlers and two seam-bowling all-rounders, then the team balance looks completely different because you get depth. The second thing is, when you go to South Africa, that will come in handy because now you have more batting options,' Nayar said.
Pujara echoed those sentiments, specifically naming Nitish Kumar Reddy as the player who should be developed into a reliable backup for Pandya. 'When Hardik is fit, obviously he will be part of the playing XI. But you can't rely on just one player because he has some fitness concerns and isn't fit throughout the year. So, you need a like-for-like replacement. That's why I think the Indian team needs to groom Nitish Kumar Reddy. When Hardik is available, obviously he is the first choice, but you have a backup option in Nitish Kumar Reddy,' Pujara said.
The Case for Reviving Multi-Nation ODI Tournaments
Both Nayar and Pujara backed a return to tri-nation and quadrangular series as a way to reinvigorate interest in 50-over cricket. Nayar invoked a golden moment from Indian cricket history to make his point: 'It's fun because watching those series where you're playing the final to win the trophy is a very different feeling. Also, it builds you up and prepares you for big tournaments, and often, fan engagement increases. When you play for a trophy involving three or four nations, you can go up and down in the standings and every game matters. So, I feel there's nothing like tri-nation or quadrangular tournaments. Going back to Sharjah, when Sachin Tendulkar hit that shot against Australia to qualify, those are epic memories that get etched in your mind,' he said.
Pujara reinforced the point from a preparation standpoint. 'In terms of preparation as well, in ODI cricket, if you are playing against just one team, you know their strengths and weaknesses quite well. But when you have three or four teams, then you have to prepare for different players. So many times, we talk about ODI cricket dying or fans not having that much interest. How can fans' interest improve? When more players are seen and more teams play, only then can it get better. So I feel a tri-nation series is the way to go,' Pujara said.
With the 2027 ODI World Cup on the horizon, India's planning around squad depth, Kohli's milestone chase, and the broader health of the 50-over format are set to remain closely watched by fans and selectors alike.
Point of View
But bridging the gap to 81 international centuries — and then pushing to 100 — requires a volume of matches that the compressed, bilateral-heavy modern calendar may simply not provide. More interesting is the all-rounder debate: India's reluctance to build a true like-for-like cover for Pandya has been an organisational blind spot for years, and Nitish Kumar Reddy's development will be a genuine test of whether the current coaching setup can plan beyond the first-choice eleven. The push for multi-nation tournaments is well-intentioned, but the scheduling reality of a revenue-driven bilateral landscape makes it harder to execute than either expert acknowledges.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Virat Kohli reach 100 international centuries before the 2027 ODI World Cup?
According to former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, it is unlikely. Nayar argued that there are not enough international matches scheduled before the 2027 ODI World Cup for Kohli to close the gap to 100 centuries, and suggested Kohli's motivation post-World Cup is also uncertain.
How many centuries does Virat Kohli have in ODI cricket?
Virat Kohli has 55 centuries in men's ODI cricket, the most by any male batter in history. He surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's previous record of 49 and reached his 50th ODI hundred in the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final against New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
Who did Abhishek Nayar and Cheteshwar Pujara suggest as a backup all-rounder for Hardik Pandya?
Both Nayar and Pujara named Nitish Kumar Reddy as the ideal candidate to be developed as a backup seam-bowling all-rounder alongside Hardik Pandya in India's ODI setup. Pujara highlighted Pandya's recurring fitness concerns as the key reason a like-for-like replacement is essential.
Why are Nayar and Pujara calling for a return to tri-nation ODI series?
Both experts argued that multi-team tournaments improve preparation by exposing squads to different opponents and playing styles, build fan engagement, and help teams peak for major events. Nayar cited the nostalgia of the Sharjah-era tri-nations as evidence of their enduring impact.
What did Nayar say about India's batting depth in ODIs?
Nayar suggested India should groom a second seam-bowling all-rounder to play alongside Hardik Pandya, arguing that fielding two such players and two proper fast bowlers — especially in seam-friendly conditions in New Zealand and South Africa — would significantly deepen India's batting order and overall team balance.
