The first test between India and Sri Lanka ended in a draw but India would be pretty happy with the result. After rain washed out most of the play on the first two days and then India only managing 172 in the first innings India would be happy with the draw.
On the fifth day as India looked to score some brisk runs and give Sri Lanka a target beyond reach, India went about losing wickets. But then the skipper raised his hand and decided to lead from the front.
Kohli after a few close encounters with the ball started to hit the ball from the sweet spot of the bat and when he gets going he wouldn’t settle for anything less than a century.
Kohli played magnificently and went on to hit his 18th Test Hundred but they joy was larger than ever since this was his 50th international century. A match to remember, an innings to remember for ever by him as well as the record books of cricket. 50 international tons at the age of 29! Can you believe it?
This was a special moment for the Indian Skipper who is redefining performance and consistency. As the Indian captain hit his 50th Ton and also equalled Sunil Gavaskar’s record of most tons as a captain for India in Tests, Twitter exploded in joy and love for their favourite cricketer.
From fans to renowned former cricketers, everyone celebrated Kohli’s 50th International Ton. When it comes to Kohli people aren’t left with a choice but to appreciate and that’s how Twitter got painted in Kohli’s colours today. Here are some Tweets congratulating Kohli on this wonderful feat.
Here’s how twitterati reacted:
No. of inns to score 50 International 100s:
348 Amla
348 KOHLI
376 Tendulkar
418 Ponting
465 Lara
520 Kallis
593 Sangakkara
667 Jayawardene#INDvsSL— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) November 20, 2017
Fastest to 50 centuries in International cricket:
348 innings – Hashim Amla / VIRAT KOHLI
376 innings – Sachin Tendulkar
420 innings – Ricky Ponting
465 innings – Brian Lara#INDvSL— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) November 20, 2017
Most Test 100s as Indian skipper:
11 V KOHLI (48 inngs) *
11 S Gavaskar (74)
9 M Azharuddin (68)
7 S Tendulkar (43)#INDvSL— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) November 20, 2017
Test century number 18 for Virat Kohli! His third against Sri Lanka and his first at Eden Gardens. #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/FgP30ozoyh
— ICC (@ICC) November 20, 2017
Virat Kohli registers his 50th International hundred. #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/iVF1PdEjqc
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) November 20, 2017
Top drawer century from @imVkohli. Held the side together when there was danger and just so easily changed style and attacked.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 20, 2017
50+ international hundreds:
100 S Tendulkar
71 R Ponting
63 K Sangakkara
62 J Kallis
54 M Jayawardene/ H Amla
53 B Lara
50 V KOHLI#INDvSL— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) November 20, 2017
50th International 100 for @imVkohli …….. #Freak
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 20, 2017
Virat Kohli 50th century in international cricket!
Now need 50 more to equal Sachin Tendulkar!#IndvSL— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) November 20, 2017
Most international centuries by captains in a calendar year:
9 – Ricky Ponting, 2005
9 – Graeme Smith, 2005
9 – Ricky Ponting, 2006
9 – VIRAT KOHLI, 2017* #INDvSL— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) November 20, 2017
Wow This will rank as one of his best 100s at home. Well played @imVkohli knock of quality. @cricketaakash @vikrantgupta73 @rajneesh_chopra
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) November 20, 2017
In International cricket,
Sachin Tendulkar:
Matches – 664, Centuries – 100Virat Kohli:
Matches – 318, Centuries – 50 #INDvSL— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) November 20, 2017
Kohli gets 50…international 100s. #WhattaMan ???
— Chennai Super Kings – Mask P?du Whistle P?du! (@ChennaiIPL) November 20, 2017
Most centuries by Indian captains in Test cricket:
11 – VIRAT KOHLI*
11 – Sunil Gavaskar
9 – Mohammed Azhruddin
7 – Sachin Tendulkar #INDvSL— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) November 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/Cric_Stat/status/932523046547619841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.crictracker.com%2Ftwitter-elated-kohli-scores-yet-another-ton%2F
https://twitter.com/Cric_Stat/status/932523046547619841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.crictracker.com%2Ftwitter-elated-kohli-scores-yet-another-ton%2F
18th Test century for @imVkohli followed by the declaration. Sri Lanka need 231 runs to win the 1st Test #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/J0Lqp650SZ
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 20, 2017
Kohli’s century:
50th in International cricket
21st as captain in Internationals
18th in Tests
11th as captain in Tests
9th in Internationals this year
2nd in 3rd inns of Tests#INDvsSL— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) November 20, 2017
Virat Kohli Test batting average goes past 50 again – 50.12 after his 18th 100!!!#INDvSL
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) November 20, 2017
Class apart??champion @imVkohli #INDvsSL
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) November 20, 2017
In the context of how match transpired, terrific century from @imVkohli. India were in a pickle after poor first session today
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) November 20, 2017
Fastest to reach 50 international hundreds… Just 348 innings ! Stupendous appetite; creditable consistency… A true blue champion @imVkohli #INDvSL https://t.co/Js7MiyxuG4
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) November 20, 2017
We witnessed a masterclass today from @imVkohli. 50th international ? already, long way to go. Well played champ! ?
— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) November 20, 2017