“Virat Kohli will…”- BCCI vice-president reveals Sachin Tendulkar’s bold prediction

The vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Rajeev Shukla, has revisited his conversation with Sachin Tendulkar, as it revealed that the former Indian captain and the batter of the side believed a young Virat Kohli possessed the ability to one day challenge and surpass the towering batting records with the bat. 

Shukla witnessed both Virat Kohli and Tendulkar during his time as the BCCI administrator. He recalled trying to persuade the batting records of the legends from one to another, so he could continue for another year and complete 25 years in international cricket.

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“What he has done as a cricketer is very difficult. There are no comparisons. And if he wanted, he could have played for another year or two. I told him to at least complete 25 years and play for another year. He said, ‘No. Raju bhai, I feel that I should leave now.’ He was very honest. ‘The day I feel that I cannot give 100 per cent to the game, I will give it up. I will walk away.’ That is what he did.” Shukla expressed.

Sachin Tendulkar predicts Virat Kohli to break his ODI records

Tendulkar finished his career with 18426 runs in 452 innings of the 50-over format at an average of 44.83 and a strike rate of 86.23, thanks to 49 centuries and 96 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 200 runs against South Africa in Gwalior.

“He called me up and said that he was going to announce his retirement. I told him not to do it and to wait for a year. He said, ‘No, I think I will quit,’ and he gave it up.” Shukla explained in the same interaction.

Meanwhile, Kohli, who is likely to feature in his fifth ODI World Cup in 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, has already crossed Tendulkar’s record of most ODI centuries, as he has notched up 14797 runs in 299 innings at an average of 58.71 and a strike rate of 93/82, shouldering on 54 centuries and 77 fifties at the best score of 183 runs against Pakistan.