Virat Kohli and Steve Smith set sights on breaking Ricky Ponting’s centuries record in WTC Final

As India prepares to face Australia in the highly anticipated 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final at Kennington Oval in London, all eyes will once again be on the former Indian captain, Virat Kohli. However, Kohli’s aspirations extend beyond victory as he aims to surpass the legendary Ricky Ponting’s record of eight centuries in India-Australia Tests. But he won’t be the only one with his sights set on this feat, as former Australian captain Steve Smith also seeks to etch his name in the annals of cricket history.

Currently, Ponting shares the joint second spot with Kohli, Smith, and Sunil Gavaskar on the list of most centuries in India-Australia Tests. The record holder is none other than the Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, who sits atop the list with an impressive tally of 11 centuries.

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While emulating Tendulkar’s remarkable record might be a daunting task, both Kohli and Smith have a realistic chance to move past Ponting’s tally of eight centuries. Their pursuit of this milestone will undoubtedly be a challenging one, considering the skill and determination required to succeed in Test cricket against two formidable sides.

As these two modern-day greats take center stage in the WTC final, their performances with the bat will be closely monitored not only for their impact on the match but also for their potential to surpass Ponting’s significant achievement. The battle for centuries in India-Australia Tests adds an extra layer of excitement to an already highly anticipated clash, pitting some of the finest cricketers against each other.