Virat Kohli 71st Century: IND vs AFG LIVE: India vs Afghanistan – Virat Kohli went on a record-breaking spree in Dubai on Thursday during India’s game against Afghanistan. Promoted to the top of the order, Kohli embraces the new Indian template and hit the bowlers to all parts of the groundbreaking numerous records in the process. The 33-year-old eventually smashed his maiden T20I century, ending his 1020 drought for a hundred. Follow Asia Cup 2022 LIVE Updates on Insidesport.IN
Virat Kohli 71st CENTURY: Virat Kohli is BACK with a BANG, ends 1020 days CENTURY DROUGHT with MAGICAL KNOCK against Afghanistan – Check Highlights
The milestone we’d all been waiting for and here it is!
71st International Century for @imVkohli 🔥💥#AsiaCup2022 #INDvAFGpic.twitter.com/hnjA953zg9
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 8, 2022
The long wait for a Virat Kohli hundred, 1020 days to be precise, ended on Thursday when he struck a high-quality 122 not out to take India to 212 for two against Afghanistan and lighten up the dead rubber of the Asia Cup.
His unbeaten effort off 61 balls got him his first hundred since November 2019 and 71st overall, equalling Ricky Ponting’s tally of international hundreds. He is now only behind Sachin Tendulkar in the all-time list. With Rohit Sharma being rested for India’s final game of the tournament, stand-in skipper KL Rahul (62 off 41) and Kohli shared an entertaining 119 off 76 balls for the opening wicket.
Kohli started toying with the field and bowlers towards the end of the innings, enough indication that he was back to his best. The knock from Rahul was his most confident one ever since he came back from injury.
Virat Kohli 71st CENTURY: Virat Kohli is BACK with a BANG, ends 1020 days CENTURY DROUGHT with MAGICAL KNOCK against Afghanistan – Check Highlights
Virat Kohli 71st Century in Numbers:
- 1: Virat Kohli slammed his maiden T20I ton. It took him 96 innings to break the duck.
- 71: This was Virat Kohli’s 71st international century. With that, he equalled Ricky Ponting for most centuries record.
- 1020: Virat Kohli’s last century was back on November 23, 2019. It has taken him 1020 days to score one again.
- 3500: Virat Kohli also became only the 2nd batter to score 3500 runs in T20Is. Rohit Sharma is the other batter.
- 104: Kohli is only the 2nd Indian to hit 100 sixes. Martin Guptill leads with 172. Rohit is one hit behind with 171.
- 122: This is the highest T20I score by an Indian batter. Kohli broke Rohit Sharma’s 118-run record. This is also Kohli’s highest T20 score ever. His previous best was 113 for RCB.
- 24,000: Virat Kohli also completed 24,000 runs in international cricket. He is slightly behind Rahul Dravid on a big record.
- 522: Virat Kohli is the fastest to score 71 international centuries. It came in 522 innings. Ricky Ponting took 668 innings while Sachin Tendulkar scored 100 centuries in 782 innings.
Virat Kohli 71st CENTURY: Virat Kohli is BACK with a BANG, ends 1020 days CENTURY DROUGHT with MAGICAL KNOCK against Afghanistan – Check Highlights
The openers played brilliantly against the spinners, including Rashid Khan (0-33), an area they needed to address heading into
the T20 World Cup. It was vintage Kohli on display as he stepped out to the spinners, pierced the field perfectly and even played a rare sweep shot.
That sweep shot came in the sixth over bowled by Mujeeb Ur Rehman. The next ball he came down the track to hit a straight
six. The former India captain also got lucky on his way to a memorable hundred as he was dropped in the deep off Mohammad
Nabi in the eight over. With India at 87 for no loss in 10 overs and Kohli on song, India looked set for a massive total.
It was raining boundaries in the last five overs as Kohli reached the elusive three figure mark with a crisp pull shot off pacer
Fareed Ahmed. He took his helmet off and smiled before kissing his necklace as part of his celebration. He ended the innings in style by smashing two sixes and a four off Fazalhaq Farooqi to push India past 200.
Virat Kohli 71st CENTURY: Virat Kohli is BACK with a BANG, ends 1020 days CENTURY DROUGHT with MAGICAL KNOCK against Afghanistan – Check Highlights
