Finally, the day has come for which we, cricket fans, waited for what feels like a lifetime. It took 989 days for Virat Kohli to end his century drought with his 71st ton. The star batsman completed this milestone against Afghanistan in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022 in Dubai. This was also Virat’s first ton in the shortest format of the game.
Kohli, who for a change opened the batting with KL Rahul as Rohit Sharma was rested, was on the move from the very first ball, making the full out of the Powerplay with some brilliant strokes. He moved to 25 off 16 balls after the first six overs and notched up his fifty, his third in the tournament, off 32 balls.
The former skipper went all vintage after the milestone, bringing up his next 50 runs off a just 21 balls. He finished on an unbeaten 122 off 61 balls, the highest score by an Indian cricketer in the T20I format.
Speaking to Star Sports after his innings, it was evident how happy and relieved Virat was.
“I feel very blessed, very grateful right now. Last two and a half years has taught me a lot. I’m going to turn 34 in November, so celebrations are all from the past,” Kohli said in the mid-innings chat.
“I have put a lot of things in perspective and, actually I was a bit shocked because this was the format I least expected a century to come any time soon, but it’s all God’s blessings, I have been working hard and this was just a moment which was very special for me and the team as well.”
When inquired about the thoughts that were going through his mind during the landmark hundred, Virat gave full credit to his life partner Anushka Sharma, dedicating the hundred to her and their daughter Vamika.