Virat Kohli struck an unbeaten 139 off 88 balls against West Indies at Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27, 2026. His innings featured 10 fours and 9 sixes at a strike rate of 157.95, guiding India to a chase of 300 for 2 in 41.4 overs after West Indies posted 295/7. The performance marked his 55th ODI century, extending his lead over Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of 49 centuries in the format.
Kohli’s knock held special significance for multiple reasons. He became the second batter after Tendulkar to reach 15,000 ODI runs, achieving the milestone in 303 innings compared to Tendulkar’s 377. In the same innings, Kohli reached both fifty and hundred with sixes for the first time in his international career. He also added a 151-run partnership for the second wicket with captain Shubman Gill, who scored 110 off 108 balls.
Akmal, the former Pakistan wicketkeeper, assessed Kohli’s performance and career trajectory with particular focus on his ability to adapt and improve continuously.
“That’s exactly it. Passion, commitment, and developing himself alongside the modern era as he goes along. This is his greatness. He isn’t stuck in just one single zone. He isn’t batting in the exact same manner as he did when he first arrived in the team,” Akmal was quoted as saying by The Cricket News.
Akmal’s assessment of Kohli’s greatness and evolution
Akmal highlighted how Kohli has refused to remain confined to a single batting approach, instead evolving his game year after year to meet the demands of modern cricket.
“Every year, he has continued to develop, refine, and elevate himself, refining and polishing himself in every single aspect,” Akmal said.
“Look at his professionalism, look at his passion, look at his fitness, look at his skills, look at his performance, look at his match-winning performances, look at him finishing games, mentally, and his game awareness. In what area has he ever been below any of the young players? Tell me one thing,” he added.
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Kohli’s record in successful chases further underscored his consistency in high-pressure situations. He has scored 25 centuries in successful chases, surpassing both Rohit Sharma and Tendulkar, who each have 14 centuries in winning run-chases. The Thiruvananthapuram innings demonstrated his continued ability to deliver match-winning performances at the highest level of ODI cricket. His evolution as a batter, from his early years in international cricket to his current form, reflected the very qualities Akmal identified in his assessment.
