'These 30-odd centuries will be difficult to come' - Shoaib Akthar challenges Virat Kohli to score hundred international centuries

Shoaib Akthar and Virat Kohli- Source (Twitter)

The talismanic India batter Virat Kohli completed his 71st century in the international arena during India's last Super 4 encounter in the 2022 T20 Asia Cup. With the help of Kohli's century, the Men in Blue drubbed Afghanistan by 101 runs and ended their Asia Cup 2022 campaign on a high.

When he got to his 71st hundred, Virat received support and praise from all corners of the globe including the neighbouring country of Pakistan. Meanwhile, former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has challenged Virat Kohli to reach the coveted landmark of 100 international centuries.

The Rawalpindi Express shared a video on his YouTube channel after India's match against Afghanistan, the express pacer explained the task at hand for Virat Kohli.

"Virat Kohli, you have always spoken the truth and good things will happen with you. Remember that yeh tees centuries aapko nichod ke chhodengi (these 30-odd centuries will be difficult to come). But don't lose courage because you will end up being the greatest of all time. So keep pushing yourself," said Akhtar.

"I have always maintained that Virat is the greatest batter of all time. But the next 29 hundred will be a tough road for him because he took about 900 days <1019> to get from 70th to 71st ton," Akhtar added.

Talking about India's match against Afghanistan, stand-in skipper KL Rahul and former captain Virat Kohli were superb and sublime with the bat as they both played extremely well and ensured that the Men in Blue cross the 200-run mark in their allotted 20 overs.

In reply, Afghanistan batters fell cheaply. The highest score came from Ibrahim Zadran's bat, who scored a gritty fifty and ensured that his side crosses the 100-run mark in their allotted 20 overs. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had a freewheeling chat after the game against Afghanistan in which Kohli said that he was pleasantly surprised when he scored his 71st Century which was also his first T20 International Century.