'It wouldn't surprise me if Virat gets a 49th before the final, 50th in the final' - Michael Vaughan predicts World Cup glory for Virat Kohli

In the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023, the cricketing world is witnessing the remarkable resurgence of Virat Kohli, and former England captain Michael Vaughan has made an exciting prediction. Vaughan believes that Kohli is destined to achieve new milestones in the tournament, comparing his prowess to legendary footballer Lionel Messi's World Cup triumph.

Kohli has been in sublime form, leading India to an unbeaten streak in the tournament. His consistently high scores and brilliant partnerships have made him the standout performer. Notably, he played a match-winning, unbeaten knock of 103 runs off 97 balls against Bangladesh, ensuring India's fourth consecutive victory. Furthermore, his masterful innings of 95 against New Zealand propelled India to their fifth straight win in the World Cup.

Currently, Kohli is the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament, boasting an impressive average of 118 with a total of 354 runs in five matches. Vaughan, speaking on the Club Prairie Fire podcast, praised Kohli and made a bold prediction. He stated,

Check Here: Most Runs in ODI Cricket World Cup 2023

“Virat Kohli in the chase, there's no one better. It wouldn't surprise me if he gets a 49th before the final, and his 50th in the final. It's written in the stars. I actually put it on social media – great, great players always arrive in World Cups. It defines their legacies. 

Vaughan's prediction is based on the belief that great players shine on the biggest stages, similar to Messi's World Cup triumph with Argentina. He envisions Kohli leading India all the way to the title.

"Look at the footballers, Lionel Messi had to win the World Cup for Argentina, and he did it. Virat has already won a World Cup but you just feel he's going to drive the Indian team all the way," he added.

As India continued to dominate the World Cup, Vaughan pondered how the team could be stopped. While acknowledging the potential of early wickets, he highlighted the benign pitches that might not assist bowlers. Even the Australians came close but couldn't quite surprise the Indian team, with Vaughan stating, 

“I'd love to know how they (India) can be stopped. I can't see at the minute. Yes, you can get early wickets. But the pitches aren't going to do much. How are you going to get them 3-4 down quickly? Aussies were the closest to surprise them when they got 3 out early in Chennai, but I don't see how anyone will get close to them,” added Vaughan.

Also Check: ODI World Cup 2023 Points Table