In the lead-up to India’s crucial World Cup clash against South Africa, Team India’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, emphasized that Virat Kohli is maintaining a singular focus on winning the 2023 World Cup for India rather than fixating on his potential 49th ODI century.
As Virat Kohli celebrates his 35th birthday on November 5, he stands at 48 ODI centuries from 288 matches. Although he recently reached the three-figure mark against Bangladesh, he narrowly missed it in encounters with New Zealand and Sri Lanka, scoring 95 and 88, respectively. Achieving one more ODI century would align Kohli with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s record.
Addressing the media in a pre-match conference, Dravid downplayed the hype surrounding Kohli’s milestone.
“Virat seems quite calm, and his performances speak for themselves. He’s batting exceptionally well, always eager to perform at his best. I haven’t observed any changes; he remains consistent,” Dravid said.
Dravid dismissed any notion of Kohli being overly preoccupied with personal records or his birthday.
“He has consistently shown professionalism, dedication, and a sharp focus. I don’t believe he’s overly concerned about reaching 49 or 50 centuries, and certainly not about getting a year older. His main priority is winning the tournament and delivering excellent cricket for the team. In that aspect, he’s performing exceptionally well,” he added.
Currently India’s leading run-scorer in the 2023 World Cup, Virat Kohli has amassed 442 runs in seven innings at an impressive average of 88.40 and a strike rate of 89.47. His contributions with the bat reflect his commitment to the team’s overall success in the tournament.