Virat Kohli ended his 40-month-long wait for a century in Test cricket and breached the milestone on day 4 of the Ahmedabad Test match against Australia. The India legend completed his 28th half-century on day 3 and started the penultimate day on a positive note. He took his time and played safely in the first session.
Kohli ended his wait in the 2nd session and reached the three-figure mark with a single off Nathan Lyon in the 139th over. As Kohli reached his 75th Test ton, he breached another milestone owned by Sachin Tendulkar.
The only batsman with more centuries in international cricket than Kohli, Sachin batted 566 times to score his 75th Test century. Kohli has reached the milestone in 552 innings. The former India captain is eyeing to breach Sachin’s 100-century mark and has neared that milestone with this century.
Kohli has 28 centuries in Tests, 46 centuries in ODIs and 1 century in T20I cricket. Sachin finished his career with 51 Test centuries and 49 ODI tons. He only played one T20I. While it may not be possible for Kohli to breach Sachin’s century tally in Tests, he can breach the ICC Hall of Famer’s record of most ODI tons this year.
The century in Ahmedabad also saw Kohli joining Sunil Gavaskar in the elite list of batsmen with centuries in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Both Kohli and Gavaskar have 8 centuries against Kangaroos. The list is topped by Sachin Tendulkar, who hit 9 centuries.
Courtesy of Kohli’s century, India have breached the 450-run mark and are on the cusp of taking a lead. Australia put on a huge total of 480 in the first innings. Apart from Kohli, Shubman Gill also scored a century and was dismissed for 128.
India hold a 2-1 lead and will win the series if the match ends in a draw. They will retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy irrespective of the result of the ongoing fixture.
