ICC World Cup 2023: Ponting Predicts Kohli Will Break Tendulkar's ODI Hundreds Record In Show-Piece Tournament

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes star India batter Virat Kohli will break Sachin Tendulkar's record for most hundreds in ODI cricket during the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023.

Kohli is just two centuries shy of going level with the Master Blaster's long-standing record in ODI format. The 34-year-old has struck 47 ODI hundreds in 282 ODIs and also came close to another during the spectacular run chase against Australia in India's campaign opener.

Icon Tendulkar had set the benchmark with 49 centuries in 463 ODIs and also amassed the most number of runs in the 50-over format with a total of 18,426. However, Ponting feels Kohli has a chance to surpass the great's feat of most ODI hundreds in the home World Cup.

"I think he will. I think he'll definitely get two hundreds, whether he gets the three is another thing. But the venues, the wickets and the grounds in India are just so conducive to scoring, making big runs," Ponting said on the latest episode of The ICC Review Podcast.

The former Australian skipper also said if Kohli gets into the mindset that this could be his last World Cup, then there is every chance that he scores two if not three hundreds during this edition in India.

"Who knows with him, it's probably his last World Cup as well. If he gets that mindset, and we saw that he's in pretty good touch, and we know with him he's always hungry. He's a winner, he wants success for himself and for his team," Ponting added.

"There is every chance at the end of this World Cup he could be equal with, if not breaking Sachin's record, which is remarkable within itself."

Although he missed a century in India's campaign opener against Australia in Chennai, his innings once again proved why he is called as the chase master by fans all around the world.

He has in fact struck 26 of his 47 ODI centuries when batting in the second innings, with 22 of those hundreds coming in a winning cause. Referring to these stats, Ponting said that Kohli would be the first batter he would choose to chase down a target in the second innings of an ODI.

"His record speaks for itself, when you get hundreds chasing, most of those in winning causes. He'd be my first pick by the length of the straight," Ponting said.

Kohli has a chance to reduce the deficit on Wednesday (October 11), when India take on Afghanistan on possibly a flat track at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.