New Delhi, Feb 28: Former India opener and Mumbai stalwart Wasim Jaffer believes Virat Kohli will continue to play for at least three to four more years and is well on track to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 international centuries.Kohli, 36, currently has 82 international centuries across all formats, with his latest coming in India’s commanding six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Champions Trophy in Dubai.
But before this, Kohli had struggled for runs at home.
“As a cricket fan you want to see Virat as much as you can. With the form he was in (against Pakistan), nobody wants to see him get out. When he makes runs everybody is happy, and I am sure everyone wants Virat to play for 3-4 more years and break all records,” Jaffer said during the launch of India Corporate T20 Bash (ICBT20), a corporate cricket league, here on Wednesday.
“The century record is one that looks like Virat is going to break. When Sachin Tendulkar made 100 centuries it looked it will never be broken but the way Virat made runs since 2010 it looks he will break that impossible thing. If Virat breaks that Sachin Tendulkar will also be very happy,” he added.
Jaffer, a member of the steering committee of the league, was also all praise for Shubman Gill but said it is unfair to compare him with Kohli.
“It will be unfair on Shubman to judge him with Virat Kohli, Shubman is making his own road. He is playing terrific cricket. In England series, he was man-of-the-series, he made a good start to the Champions Trophy and I hope he will continue because everybody has expectations from him. He and the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal are going to take Indian batting forward.
“It is nice to watch the way he is playing cricket,” he said.
Former South Africa opener Herschelle Gibbs, who is the brand ambassador of the ICBT20, echoed Jaffer’s views, staying that Kohli has a lot of cricket left in him.
“I think its long time because of his (Kohli’s) fitness and his hunger, he can go for at least another 4 years. He is in the same boat like AB de Villiers, AB might have retired a bit too early but there were never issues with their fitness and hunger. Virat’s hunger for runs in unbelievable,” Gibbs said.
“The way he copes pressure specially while chasing in ODI cricket is phenomenal.”
Gibbs said India are favourites to win the Champions Trophy, and also lauded Gill as a “special player”.
“Shubman is a special talent, he is technically correct and bit more talented,” he said.
“India are obviously the favourites, they look very strong. But South Africa are also in a good space, obviously I understand their history when it comes to big tournaments but hopefully they can rectify that and we can see South Africa and India in final. But India looks formidable.”
The ICBT20 will feature six teams — Bengaluru Avengers, Delhi Kings, Gurugram Spartans, Gujarat Diamonds, Hyderabad Royals and Mumbai Champions in the inagural season to be held here in May.