Kohli sits second currently on the list of run-getters in this ICC World Cupwith 354 runs, and 198 of those have come in the last two of his five innings so far in the tournament.He scored 103* against Bangladesh and 95 against New Zealand.
Barring a few fielding errors, India have been on top of their game in all three departments, which shows in their five-match unbeaten run to be number one on the points table at the moment.
The red-hot Kohli, meanwhile, is two hundreds away from becoming the first batter to reach the milestone of 50 centuries in ODI cricket, and Vaughan is almost sure that Kohli will get there in this World Cup itself.
“Virat Kohli in the chase, there’s no one better. It wouldn’t surprise me if he gets a 49th (century) before the final, and his 50th in the final. It’s written in the stars,” said Vaughan speaking on the ‘Club Prairie Fire’ podcast.
Vaughan went on to draw comparisons between Kohli and Messi, citing how an inspired Messi led Argentina to winning the FIFA World Cup in Qatar and how Kohli is playing in an equally inspired manner to take India “all the way” in this World Cup.
Kohli was also part of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning team.
“I actually put it on social media – great, great players always arrive in World Cups. It defines their legacies. Look at the footballers, Lionel Messi had to win the World Cup for Argentina, and he did it. Virat has already won a World Cup but you just feel he’s going to drive the Indian team all the way,” Vaughan added.
“I’d love to know how they (India) can be stopped. I can’t see it at the minute. Yes, you can get early wickets. But the pitches aren’t going to do much. How are you going to get them 3-4 down quickly? Aussies were the closest to surprise them when they got three out early in Chennai, but I don’t see how anyone will get close to them,” the ex-England captain said.
India will next take on England in Lucknow on October 29. They have so far beaten Australia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand.