Can Virat Kohli break Sachin Tendulkar's record of maximum ODI centuries?

Despite having witnessed a slight slump in form of late, Virat Kohli was back to his best in the fourth ODI against South Africa as he slammed his 23rd ODI ton.

In the list of batsmen who have scored maximum number of ODI centuries, Kohli lies at the fifth position behind Sachin Tendulkar (49), Ricky Ponting (30), Sanath Jayasuriya (28) and Kumar Sangakkara (25).

As Kohli continues his good run, the burning question once again is – whether he can surpass Tendulkar's record of maximum ODI centuries? As we can see, there is a huge difference between Tendulkar and Ponting, a difference of 19 ODI centuries.

Not to forget, Kohli has played just 165 ODIs compared to Tendulkar who represented India in 463 ODIs. Also, Kohli is just 26-year-old and can easily play for the next six to eight years, at least.

Hashim Amla too, has a terrific record when it comes to scoring centuries, as the South African veteran has so far scored 21 centuries from just 122 ODIs. But Amla is six years older to Kohli and it remains to be seen how long he can maitain the fitness levels required to survive in modern day cricket.

Kohli has often hailed Tendulkar as the role model who inspired him to take up cricket and it would be a challenge for him to surpass the legend's historic record.

Having said that, looking at his incredible fitness and insatiable hunger to score runs, if there is a cricketer who looks to breakTendulkar's record in the years to come, it is Virat Kohli.

Virender Sehwag Retires from International Cricket and Indian Premier League, Officially

Virender Sehwag has retired from international cricket, officially. On his 37th birthday, Sehwag, who hinted at retirement during the Masters Champions League opening in Dubai on Monday, said on Tuesday that he was stepping down from all forms of international cricket. He is currently playing first-class cricket for Haryana.

Sehwag, famous for his hand-eye co-ordination and giving the ball a solid whack, did not lose his sense of humour while announcing his retirement.

In a statement released to the media, Sehwag said: "To paraphrase Mark Twain, the report of my retirement yesterday was exaggerated! However, I have always done what I felt was right and not what conformists thought to be right. God has been kind and I have done what I wanted to do - on the field and in my life. And I had decided some time back that I will retire on my 37th birthday. So today, while I spend my day with my family, I hereby announce my retirement from all forms of International Cricket and from the Indian Premier League.

"Cricket has been my life and continues to be so. Playing for India was a memorable journey and I tried to make it more memorable for my team mates and the Indian cricket fans. I believe that I was reasonably successful in doing so. For that, I wish to thank all my team mates over the years - some of the greatest players of the game. I would like to thank all my captains who believed in me and backed me to the hilt. I also thank our greatest partner, the Indian cricket fan, for all the love, support and memories."

Sehwag's decision comes only two days after one of his contemporaries Zaheer Khan decided to call time on his career.

A day before his 37th birthday, Sehwag was on Monday unveiled at the launch ceremony of the veterans league in Dubai.

MCL is supposed to be played in February next year, which means that Sehwag will complete his Ranji Trophy commitments with Haryana before joining the veterans' league.

In a glorious international career spanning over 12 years, Sehwag played 104 Tests scoring 8586 runs at an impressive average of 49.34, hitting 23 centuries and 32 half-centuries.

He is the only triple centurion in Tests for India having scored career-best knock of 319 against Pakistan at Multan, which also is an Indian record. He is also one of those rare batsmen to have scored two triple ton with his next one (309) coming against South Africa.

In 251 ODIs, he accumulated 8273 runs at an average of 35.05 and scored 15 hundreds apart from hitting 38 fifties.

In 19 Twenty20 Internationals, he managed 394 runs with two half-centuries.

He has been a part of two World Cup winning teams under Mahendra Singh Dhoni's leadership --- 2007 World T20 in South Africa and the ICC Cricket World Cup in India.