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Can Virat Kohli break Sachin Tendulkar's record of 100 international centuries?


Given the way Virat Kohli has played in the last few years it would be prudent to say that Sachin’s insurmountable feat of 100 international hundreds certainly looks possible now. 
 As on 22nd October 2018, he is just short of completing 30 years and has 60 centuries to his name. 
After touching 30, Sachin was at 65 international centuries.
While most of the analysis on the internet focuses on the number of innings being played, let’s dive into the analysis of how they have done in different formats at different stages of their career. Cricket with its current rigours and commercialisation has definitely curtailed the playing period of many players. So, it is necessary to look into the age aspect as well.
Both Sachin and Virat scored their first ODI hundreds at the age of 21. The intertwined graph shows that they both are neck and neck till now. 
Tendulkar suffered a century slump in 2004-2007 because of his injuries. He also got out in the nervous nineties a large number of times in this period. Kohli can increase his current lead in the next few years if he plays like he is playing now.
In Test matches, given Sachin’s early rise he currently enjoys a healthy lead over Virat. Five centuries as a teenager, that too while touring England, South Africa and Australia is certainly no mean feat. 
If Virat can continue his meteoric rise in the next three years, he can edge ahead of Tendulkar.
Certain factors which will come into play are:-
1) Fitness- While it would be difficult for him to match Sachin’s playing till 40, he can easily play till the age of 35. Although Virat takes his fitness very seriously and manages his schedule very smartly, the rigours of playing so many IPL and international matches does take a toll on an athlete’s body. His recent back problems are just a case in point.
2) Fixtures- Not many ODI matches are played as compared to the 90s and 2000s. Their replacements, T20 internationals wouldn’t help as getting a hundred there is more difficult(Although Virat has scored 75+ on 6 instances).
3) ODIs and Tests workload-Since 2017(when he became the captain for all three formats), he has played a total of 36 ODIs and 20 Test matches. Counting the remaining 4 ODIs vs West Indies and 3 Tests vs Australia, he gets to play 18–20 ODIs and 12 Tests annually. So, till retirement he can end up with 350 ODIs and 150 Tests.
4) Purple patch- Generally the period 28-32 years is when a batsman hits his peak. Kohli started his meteoric rise in 2016 and hasn’t stopped since. In the last three years he has been head and shoulders above the rest in almost every aspect. He has another 2-3 years if we go by the generalisation.
5) Captaincy- Being the captain of the team brings extra responsibility and Kohli has led his team by example. He can give up his captaincy in the later stage of his career to groom someone new. That will let to enjoy his batting freely a.
Only time will tell whether Virat ends up breaking Sachin’s record or not, till then we can enjoy the stellar performances of this Once in a generation player.

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