Virat Kohli can surpass Sachin Tendulkar's record, smash 120 hundreds: Shoaib Akhtar

Mumbai: Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has revealed that Team India captain Virat Kohli could slam 120 international centuries and go on to break the great Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 international tons.

During the first Test match against Sri Lanka, the 29-year-old Kohli got to his 50th international century, after which India declared at 352-8. The match ended in a hard-fought draw.

“If Misbah-ul-Haq can play until 43, I am sure Virat can play until he is 44. If he plays that long and if he continues to score the way he is doing now, I have no doubt that he is the only one who can do it. In fact, he can hit 120 centuries," the ‘Rawalpindi Express' Akhtar was quoted saying to Khaleej Times.

"But comparing him to Sachin is not justified. Sachin was an all-time great. In today's era, Virat Kohli is the greatest batsman," he added.

He added that it would have been great to play against him a bit more.

"It would have been great if I had played against him a bit more. Unfortunately he was too young towards the end of my career. He only faced one ball from me in Sri Lanka," he said.

The 42-year-old also spoke about bowling to Sachin Tendulkar in his early days.

"You know when I first came to international cricket, it wasn't easy even for someone like Sachin to play me because I was bowling so quick. When I first played international cricket, Sachin was in his 10th year in international cricket and he had to face me, Glenn McGrath, Wasim, Waqar.

"But he still went on to score many more hundreds to become the only player to score 100 international centuries. That showed the ability of the man," he stated.

Virat Kohli will lead the Indian team in the second Test against Sri Lanka, starting on Friday.