The Indian captain has come up with a magnificent century at Centurion amid great criticism. First Kohli was smashed for her poor performance in Cape Town and then he was largely criticised for having dropped Bhuvneshwar Kumar from the playing XI.
Image Source: Twitter
But the Indian captain has smashed his 21st Test century and has led the team from front with a captain’s knock. While no other Indian batsman could manage to go past a score of 50 but Virat Kohli led with an example. Virat Kohli has made sure that the Indian batting doesn’t collapse like it did at Cape Town.
This is Virat Kohli’s 21st Test century and his second against South Africa. Kohli has been the lone fighter for India in the first innings as all other batsmen failed. In response to 335 by South Africa, Indian batting toppled once again and the only little partnership India got going was that of Virat Kohli and Murali Vijay. Murali Vijay got dismissed on 46.
India went into the Centurion Test with 3 changes in the playing XI. KL Rahul was brought in ahead of Shikhar Dhawan and Parthiv Patel got a game ahead of Saha. But both KL Rahul and Parthiv Patel could not do anything significant with the bat. The third change was Ishant’s inclusion in place of Bhuvneshwar Kumar for which Kohli was slammed badly. But Ishant Sharma managed to pick 3 wickets in the first innings.
Kohli Must Go On
Despite a brilliant century by Kohli, India is still trailing by a long way. It is very important for India that Virat Kohli must stay there for the job is still half done. The tail will have to make sure that they support their captain nicely.
Here is how twitterati reacted:
https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/952820226571223041
Leading from the front #TeamIndia Skipper @imVkohli as brings up his 21st Test ? #FreedomSeries #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/INgkFgzytF
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 15, 2018
Most consecutive conversions from 90s to 100 in Tests for India
16 Virat Kohli (2014-2018)*
16 Sunil Gavaskar (1978-1983)
14 Mohammad Azharuddin (1984-1994)— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) January 15, 2018
Indian captains with most Test hundreds outside India:
7 VIRAT KOHLI (in 22 inns)
5 Mohammed Azharuddin (in 41)
4 Sachin Tendulkar (in 21)
4 Rahul Dravid (in 30)
3 Sourav Ganguly (in 43)#SAvIND #INDvSA— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) January 15, 2018
A 21st Test century for @imVkohli – what an innings!https://t.co/WB1xddEOLO #SAvIND #FreedomSeries pic.twitter.com/xXnsIutwwj
— ICC (@ICC) January 15, 2018
This has been a privilege to watch. Virat Kohli 101*, India 207/5. One of the finest hundreds of his career. #SAvIND #Kohli pic.twitter.com/Iw07dUe8Jz
— Saurabh Somani (@saurabh_42) January 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/SPN_Cricket/status/952819903089659904
A 21st Test HUNDRED for Virat Kohli! He is holding the innings together, another fine knock from the India captain. India are now 207-5.
Watch on Sky Sports Cricket. Scorecard: https://t.co/LcyGfJdBYy pic.twitter.com/3wht0t6y9j
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) January 15, 2018
Well done Virat Kohli. Welcome to the 21st century.
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) January 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/kick_buttawski/status/952819673480945664
https://twitter.com/kyahaibosdk/status/952819949885468672
5402 test runs
54.02 average
21 test centuries
15 test fiftiesThe only man in history to average 50+ in all three forms of the game is at it again.
Virat Kohli scores another ton. pic.twitter.com/PbLCebH06R
— bet365 (@bet365) January 15, 2018
