Virat Kohli completed his much awaited 28th Test century in the second session on Day 4 of the final India-Australia Test in Ahmedabad, today (March 12).
Kohli hadn’t made a hundred in 24 Test matches and 42 innings before this game, and his latest three-figure score came much to the delight of his fans all over the world. He reached there with a trademark clip off his hips off the bowling of Nathan Lyon in the 139th over of the innings.
While he has subdued his century celebrations over the years, one could sense the relief in his body language as he raised his bat to acknowledge the ovation from the crowd and his teammates.
The Man. The Celebration.
Take a bow, @imVkohli 💯🫡#INDvAUS #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/QrL8qbj6s9
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 12, 2023
He came in to bat at 187-2 – a rare occasion where Kohli walked into bat in a recent home Test with a platform laid. The last time he had come in with a higher score on the board in a home Test match was in 2019 in Vishakhapatnam, when Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal had scored a century and a double century respectively against South Africa, and the second wicket fell at a score of 324.
Kohli displayed immense concentration and self-control in this innings, playing almost everything with the turn. He hit as few as five boundaries and was excellent at nudging the spinners into the gaps for singles.
There was plenty of applause on the field, and on social media:
What a pic – Steve Smith appreciating Virat Kohli. pic.twitter.com/idEsbj5Wkt
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 12, 2023
Most International hundreds among active players:
1) Virat Kohli – 75*
2) Joe Root – 45
3) David Warner – 45
4) Rohit Sharma – 43
5) Steve Smith – 42— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 12, 2023
That celebration from Virat Kohli, the reserved raise of the bat and the kiss to the wedding ring, after that century is a sign of where he seems to be in life & where his priorities are currently. Extremely mature & in love with his family #IndvAus
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) 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
An innings marked by patience. And the wait has an inevitable end. #Kohli
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 12, 2023
May not have had the chutzpah and sizzle of ild, but such a splendid century by #Kohli. Comes at a vital stage in his career, and also crucial in the context of the match with India looking to take a first innings lead. Well played! 👏👏
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) March 12, 2023
T20I hundred on September 8th.
ODI hundred on December 10th.
Test hundred on March 12th.The Greatest all-format batter is back, King Kohli. pic.twitter.com/8KkW8ywUiN
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 12, 2023
Virat Kohli scores his 75th international hundred in the "75 years of friendship through cricket" match.#INDvAUS
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) March 12, 2023
Virat Kohli brings up his 75th International century 🙌
1205 days – The wait is over for the King's 28th Test century – and his 75th overall. 🫡#PlayBold #TeamIndia #INDvAUS #BGT2023 pic.twitter.com/0xEqoKSUs8
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) March 12, 2023