IND vs SL: Virat Kohli inches closer to Sachin Tendulkar record

Former India captain Virat Kohli will be resuming cricketing action in the New Year from January 10 against Sri Lanka after being rested from the recently concluded T20I series. The run-scoring machine, who has been in the thick of things for his inconsistent run in the recent times, will have a chance of emulating his idol Sachin Tendulkar in the three-match ODI series, which gets underway on Tuesday. 

Kohli will need one century to equalise Tendulkar's record for most centuries (20) at home. Tendulkar had achieved the record in 164 matches. Kohli, who is in the twilight zone of his career, has scored 19 centuries at home in just 101 matches. However, his last century at home came in March 2019 against Australia. He had scored back-to-back ODI hundreds in the series against the visiting Australian side.

Virat Kohli underwent a lean patch

The 34-year-old had been going through a very lean patch with the bat. He ended his nearly 4-year drought for an ODI hundred during the three-match series in Bangladesh in November-December 2022. He struck 113 of just 91 deliveries in the 2nd ODI against Bangladesh but his form tapered off in the Test series as the star batter managed just 45 runs across two Tests.

Kohli is also eyeing another major landmark as he has an opportunity to break into the top 5 of all-time run-scorers list in ODIs. He needs 180 more runs to go past former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene in the list of batters with most ODI runs. He will be hoping to return to peak form in the ODI World Cup year even as the competition for the spots in the top and middle order intensified.