Finally, after a wait of 3 years 3 months, and 20 days – that is 1,206 days – Virat Kohli broke his century drought in Test cricket by slamming one of his best Test centuries in Ahmedabad, in the 4th Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test, against Australia.
At the Narendra Modi stadium, the stands started to fill in right from early in the morning on Sunday. Not because if was a holiday, but mostly because Virat Kohli had finished at 59* on Day 3.
Even as India lost Ravindra Jadeja early in the morning, Virat Kohli continued on his knock and in a zen mode. He got good support from KS Bharat and Axar Patel.
Kohli formed 4 important partnerships in his marathon innings: 58 with Shubman Gill, 64 with Jadeja, 84 with Bharat, and 162 with Axar. After Gill’s century on Day 3, it was Kohli’s time to bring up a brilliant century – his 28th in Test cricket.
Virat Kohli now has 75 international hundreds
The others played their part very well in supporting these two: Rohit had an opening stand of 74 with Gill, who then shared a 113-run stand with Pujara before Kohli took over the mantle.
Virat Kohli’s knock was filled with immese restraint as he didn’t look to play off-spinners Todd Murphy and Nathan Lyon against the turn for the most part of his century – there was no cover drive boundary against these two off-spinners – bringing shades of Sachin Tendulkar’s epic double hundred in Sydney two decades ago – as Kohli showed incredible determination to only play the two off-spinners with the turn on the leg side.
Kohli scored heavily on the leg side: apart from scoring against the two off-spinners with the turn, Australia moved to bowling on middle and leg stump line, realising that there was little in the pitch to support them.
Virat Kohli’s celebration of his centuries in the past year – his maiden T20I hundred, 3 ODI centuries, and now his 28th Test ton – all have been subdued, with just a simple raise of the bat to acknowledge the raucuous applause of the crowd, followed by a kiss to his wedding ring.
On Twitter, though, it was wild scenes as fans celebrated Virat Kohli’s comeback Test century:
Most runs for India in Asia Cup 2022.
Most runs in T20 World Cup 2022.
Most runs for India in BGT 2023.
Most runs for India in WTC history.Man, Myth, Legend, King Kohli. pic.twitter.com/LxdGWYgWEq
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 12, 2023
https://twitter.com/smileandraja/status/1634841515183972352?s=20
Incredible timing by Virat Kohli. Brings his 75th century at Narendra Modi stadium. Fans can now celebrate Century Ka Amrit Mahotsav pic.twitter.com/lZgxfCMAjz
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) March 12, 2023
75th hundred by Virat Kohli!
The long wait is finally over for King Kohli – his 28th Test century! pic.twitter.com/5mGNDMdMWL
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 12, 2023
What a pic – Steve Smith appreciating Virat Kohli. pic.twitter.com/idEsbj5Wkt
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 12, 2023
Two completely different and opposite generations bowing down to Virat Kohli. Iconic. ❤️pic.twitter.com/4vD9luaTAl
— + (@Sobuujj) March 12, 2023
This is Virat Kohli the batter. Has the power and the tools, and knows when to use what. Well played @imVkohli 👏🏽 #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/TSmEV2G2jD
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 12, 2023
Virat Kohli visited Kainchi Dham before his 73rd Century
Vrindavan before 74th Century
Mahakaleshwar before 75th Century
By the time he reaches his 100th century, he will have visited more temples than my parents
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) March 12, 2023
Virat Kohli becomes the leading run-getter for India in WTC history.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 12, 2023
Welcome back Virat Kohli. This is a test century well received in many quarters. No 28👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) March 12, 2023
https://twitter.com/HaramiParindey/status/1634816864340639745?s=20
Just when it seemed like Smith and Root were getting away, Kohli keeps up 🏃♂️ pic.twitter.com/BVsSFcGrhK
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 12, 2023
Virat Kohli’s 75th Century.
Now Sachin will start visiting Temples 😹 pic.twitter.com/i4TaOpct9r
— maithun (@Being_Humor) March 12, 2023
Two handshakes that changed Kohli's life?!!? 😭 pic.twitter.com/4qpmBZlgho
— Manya (@CSKian716) March 12, 2023
Must be among the most hard fought hundreds of Kohli's test career. He has really had to graft here. Very similar to his hundred in Nagpur vs England in 2012 (his 3rd test ton).
And between these two hundreds of Kohli's, we have seen the best of Kohli the test batter.
— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) March 12, 2023
An innings marked by patience. And the wait has an inevitable end. #Kohli
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 12, 2023
481 minutes of batting and no sign of tiredness on the face of Virat Kohli.the fitness level pic.twitter.com/SVPNn6hGAP
— Sunil the Cricketer (@1sInto2s) March 12, 2023
The Magic of Virat Kohli, older to younger every generation likes it. pic.twitter.com/LmCBqPHTao
— Wellu (@Wellutwt) March 12, 2023
Experts feel Kohli batted slow for his hundred, and now batting fast for his double hundred.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) March 12, 2023
Highest batting average for an Indian in a Border-Gavaskar Trophy series (minimum five innings):
123.80 – Rahul Dravid, 2003/04
111.50 – Sachin Tendulkar, 1998
95.25 – VVS Laxman, 2008
88.00 – Axar Patel, 2023
86.50 – Virat Kohli, 2014/15#INDvAUS— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) March 12, 2023
King #Kohli 👑🔥 pic.twitter.com/u5Z48El9va
— Aman_Chain 🇮🇳 (@Amanprabhat9) March 12, 2023
Virat Kohli embracing centuries in all formats after the pandemic pic.twitter.com/oZxb5VSNPQ
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) March 12, 2023
