Kohli’s Milestone and Dedication
In a stunning return to form, Virat Kohli scored his 81st international century, dedicating this significant milestone to his wife, actress Anushka Sharma. Following a drought of over 500 days without a Test century, Kohli found his rhythm in Perth, a place that has historically favored him as a visiting batter. After his impressive performance, Kohli expressed his gratitude towards Anushka, stating, “She has been right by my side through thick and thin. She knows everything that goes on behind the scenes when you don’t play as well.” He emphasized the importance of contributing to the team and expressed pride in representing his country, adding that Anushka’s presence made the achievement even more special.
During the match, Kohli notched up an unbeaten 100 runs from 143 balls, hitting eight fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 69.93. Raising his bat in celebration after reaching the century, Kohli reflected on the significance of this achievement in his ongoing pursuit of equalling Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 international centuries.
Record-Breaking Performance
This century marks Kohli’s first Test century in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries since December 2018 when he scored against Australia in Perth. He now has 30 Test centuries to his name, accumulating a total of 9,145 runs at an average of 48.13 in 119 matches, with his highest score standing at 254*. Across all formats, Kohli has made a total of 100 centuries in professional cricket, with 54 List A centuries, nine T20 centuries, and 37 first-class centuries.
Kohli’s achievement also includes becoming the seventh player to complete 2,000 runs in Border-Gavaskar Trophy history. In this series, he has scored 2,147 runs in 26 matches at an average of 48.79, including nine centuries and five fifties, with a best score of 186. With this century, Kohli has surpassed Sachin Tendulkar, holding the record for the most Test centuries by an Indian in Australia, boasting seven centuries against six from Tendulkar.
India’s Dominance in the Match
The match itself saw India batting first after winning the toss, managing to score 150 runs. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rishabh Pant played crucial roles, forming a significant 48-run partnership. For Australia, Josh Hazlewood shone with the ball, supported by Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Mitchell Marsh, who each took two wickets.
Australia’s response was disastrous, with a collapse to 79/9 at one stage. Mitchell Starc and Alex Carey salvaged some pride by pushing the total to 104, leaving India a lead of 46 runs. Jasprit Bumrah was the standout bowler for India, claiming five wickets for 30 runs in 18 overs, while debutant Harshit Rana impressed with figures of 3/48.
In their second innings, India propelled their lead tremendously, featuring a record 201-run opening partnership between KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jaiswal’s magnificent innings of 161 runs (297 balls, 15 fours, 3 sixes) included vital partnerships with Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli. Kohli added an aggressive unbeaten 100 to the score, assisting India in declaring their innings at 487/6, giving Australia a daunting target of 534 runs to win.
By the end of the day’s play, Australia had crumbled to 12/3, needing 522 more runs to win. Bumrah returned to terrorize the Australian batting lineup, taking two wickets in two overs.
The Emotional Journey
Reflecting on the match, it was evident that Kohli had regained his form, showcasing his legendary batting skills alongside emerging talent Yashasvi Jaiswal. While the Australian team appeared disheartened, India looked poised for victory, boasting a dominant performance amid sweltering temperatures in Perth. Kohli’s emotional dedication to Anushka also resonated with fans, highlighting the personal journey that accompanies every professional achievement. As India sets its sights on a series victory, both players and fans can savor the remarkable achievements and breakthroughs in this Test match.
