The vintage Virat Kohli is well and truly back as he celebrated his 500th International international match by notching up his 76th century. He was eventually dismissed for 121.
During the second Test against West Indies, Virat Kohli brought up his 29th Test century in his 187th innings, ending his overseas century drought of 1,677 days. The right-hander played a square drive to reach the landmark before lunch on Day 2.
With this ton, Kohli has secured a spot among elite companies as he has become India’s fourth-highest century-aggregator. Only Sachin Tendulkar (51), Rahul Dravid (36) and Sunil Gavaskar (34) are ahead of him.
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En route to his patient innings of 121, he has also pipped his predecessor Tendulkar in terms of centuries scored in 500 international matches. At this point, the Little Master scored 75 tons compared to Kohli’s 76. The latter is the tenth cricketer to enter the lofty 500 club.
The elegant batter now has 28 centuries away from Asia for India, second to Tendulkar. His tally of 15 overseas Test tons has guaranteed the fourth spot among Indian batters with the most away Test tons.
It was his 12th ton against the West Indies, second only to Sunil Gavaskar, who has 13 centuries to his name.
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The legendary batter bosses the number four position in Test as his record of 25 tons in that position has placed him fourth behind Tendulkar (44), Jaques Kallis (35) and Mahela Jayawardene (30).
Kohli breached the 2000 World Test Championship runs mark, only the second Indian to do so after Rohit Sharma. Sharma’s feat came on day one of the same Test Match.
With his Test batting average (49.29) agonisingly close to 50 again, Kohli would want to reclaim his place in the ‘Fab Four’ as he is the only batter among Kane Williamson, Steve Smith and Joe Root to average less than 50 in Test Cricket.
