Perth: He hadn’t scored a Test century for 16 months. His previous 15 Test knocks had yielded just just two half-centuries. He averaged just 15 in the recent home series against New Zealand which India lost 3-0.
Virat Kohli was under tremendous pressure as social media called for his (and Rohit Sharma’s) retirement.
And then came the tour of Australia, his happy hunting ground. Out cheaply in the first innings of the opening Test at Perth, Kohli showed his class in the second essay on Sunday to notch up his 30th Test hundred (81st in international cricket) as India edged closer to a resounding victory over Australia.
As his sweep off Marnus Labuschagne was signalled a boundary by the umpire after checking if the ball had touched the rope, Kohli touched the magical mark of 100. Glee and relief writ large on his face, the former captain took off his helmet, raised it along with the bat, and threw flying kisses at his actress wife Anushka Sharma who was in the stadium.
Watch the viral video shared by several users on X:
Virat kohli’s celebration and praising Anushka 💖 pic.twitter.com/UqsjDTyCMH
— Dy (retd.) (@Tweets_dy_) November 24, 2024
Indian captain Jasprit Bumrah declared India’s second innings at 487/6 soon after Kohli reached the milestone. As the superstar walked away waving to the crowd and throwing more kisses at Anushka, TV commentator and former Australian legend Adam Gilchrist rushed with the microphone for a quick interview.
Asked about the significance of his celebration and those flying kisses, Kohli thanked Anushka.
“Anushka has been right by my side through thick and thin.. she knows how I feel, what goes on in my mind when I’m not doing well.. so this hundred is more special that Anushka is around,” Kohli said.
SIGNIFICANCE OF KOHLI’S PERTH CENTURY
* His 100 not out was Kohli’s 30th Test century, and 81st in international cricket (50 in ODIs, 1 in T20Is)
* This Test hundred came after 16 months and 17 Test innings; his previous three-figure knock was 121 in the second Test (July 2023) vs West Indies at Port-of-Spain
* It was Kohli’s 7th Test century in Australia – the most by an Asian batsman after Sachin Tendulkar (6), Sunil Gavaskar (5) and VVS Laxman (4)
* Kohli has now scored 10 centuries across formats against Australia in Australia – more than any batter in the world.