King Kohli finds the missing jewel of his crown in Asia Cup
AFP
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Virat 'King' Kohli smashed his 71st international century to spark the dead rubber Asia Cup encounter against Afghanistan in Dubai on Thursday as Kohli ended his century drought and got the magical three-figure mark after 1020 days.
Kohli reached his maiden T20I hundred in 53 balls, continuing on his impressive run of form since his return to Team India in the continental tournament. Prior to this ton knock, Kohli had scored two fifties in the ongoing Asia Cup (59* against Hong Kong and 60 against Pakistan).
The star batter stood unbeaten on 122 off 61 deliveries with 12 fours and six sixes and helped his side piled up 212-2.
Before this match, Kohli had last scored an international century against Bangladesh in a Pink Ball Test on November 23, 2019.
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Last month, the batter had endured a thousand days without a ton.
Kohli has dedicated this century to his loving wife and Bollywood star Anushka Sharma and his daughter Vamika.
"Last two and a half years have taught me a lot. I am going to turn 34 in a month," Kohli said during the innings break.
"It was an accumulation of a lot of things. The team has been open and helpful. I know there was a lot of stuff going outside. And I kissed my ring. You see me standing here because one person has put things in perspective for me. That's Anushka. This hundred is for her and for our little daughter Vamika as well. When you have someone next to you having conversations putting things in perspective, like Anushka has been," Kohli added.
Kohli equaled Australia's batting great Ricky Ponting. Only Sachin Tendulkar (100 international centuries) stays ahead of the former India captain now.
Kohli has also hit 27 Test and 43 ODI centuries in a stellar career.
The numbers to know
- Kohli had gone 1021 days since his last international century - a Test match ton against Bangladesh at home in 2019.
- Kohli equalled Ponting's tally of international hundreds with the century in Dubai
- The former India skipper crossed 3500 runs in T20Is, becoming the second men's player after Rohit Sharma to the landmark
- The 122* is the 13th highest score in men's T20Is and the highest by an Indian player.
- Kohli also recorded the highest score in T20Is in UAE with 122* in Dubai.
