As Team India are all set to take on England in the ODI series in Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, skipper Virat Kohli will be on the verge of achieving a milestone on Tuesday (March 23).
The Indian captain could surpass former Australia skipper and Delhi Capitals (DC) head coach Ricky Ponting's record if he scores a century in the ODI series-opener.
He would surpass Ponting and become the captain with the most centuries in international cricket across all formats. Currently, Kohli and Ponting are both tied at the top position in the list of captains with the most centuries in international cricket (41).
Kohli - with the century - could also equal the legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar's tally of scoring most centuries at home in the 50-over format. Currently, Tendulkar is leading the table of scoring most tons by an Indian batsman in ODIs at home. He had smashed 20 centuries during his international career.
As for Kohli, he has scored 19 tons in front of the home crowd in ODIs so far. In the recently concluded five-match T20I series, Kohli accumulated 231 runs including three half-centuries that awarded him the Player-of-the-Series.
While talking about the ODI series, Kohli said that though the concentration will be on T20I keeping the World Cup in mind, but every India game has immense value.
"As I've said in the past many times that scheduling and workload is something that everyone will have to be very aware of and keep an eye out for especially in today's day and age where you just don't know where restrictions might come in and you have to, even in future might have to continue to play in bubbles.
"I think it's very important to consider how much you're playing and it's not just the physical side of things but mental side of things as well. The players need to be spoken to and consulted with. Otherwise, it's going to be a case of whoever can last through difficult times like these, plays. If not, you know, move away and someone else replaces that player.
"I don't think that that's healthy for a cricket system and a cricket culture moving forward,” the Indian skipper said on the eve of the first ODI.
(Agency inputs)