'When You Pass Sachin Tendulkar...': Sunil Gavaskar Hails Virat Kohli, Calls Him GOAT After 52nd Century

India vs South Africa 1st ODI: Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has come up with huge praise for Virat Kohli after the latter produced an incredible effort in the first ODI match against South Africa at the JSCA International Cricket Stadium in Ranchi on Sunday. Kohli smashed a magnificent century, the 52nd of his stellar ODI career.

Gavaskar said that when one goes past batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, he is supposed to be the greatest of all time. He ended the debate over who stands alone in one-day cricket. Notably, Virat went past Sachin's record for most career centuries in a single format. Sachin scored 51 centuries in Tests, whereas Virat has now 52 tons in the ODI format.

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Kohli went on to play a sensational knock of 135 runs in 120 balls on the back of 11 fours and seven sixes as India posted a mammoth total of 349/8 in their 50 overs after being put into bat first. "I don’t think there is any doubt about that. I mean, it isn’t just me, I think those who have played with him and against him all agree that he is the greatest in the one-day format," Gavaskar said while speaking to the host broadcasters.

"Look, you score 52 hundreds, that actually sets you up right up there in the stratosphere, so to speak," Gavaskar added.

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"I just heard that Ricky Ponting said that he is the best that he has seen in one-day cricket. So, I mean, when somebody, an Australian captain…they will agree that it is rare, very rare to get praise from an Australian," Gavaskar said.

"Very, very difficult. So, if an Australian says that, you know, he was the best, then I don’t think there is any argument for that," Gavaskar added.

There has always been a debate and comparison over the greatness of Sachin and Virat. Gavaskar had his say on the topic as he believes that if a World Cup-winning Aussie skipper calls Kohli the best he has ever seen, the usual claims of national bias don’t hold.

"Sachin has been absolutely right up there with 51 Hundreds. But when you pass the great Sachin Tendulkar, then you know where you stand," Gavaskar said.