Indian batter Virat Kohli finally registered a much-needed century in cricket. On Thursday, the 33-year-old smashed a bludgeoning 122* against Afghanistan in a Super Four match at the 2022 Asia Cup in Dubai. In what was a dead-rubber contest, India, asked to bat first, saw Kohli deliver as he lit up Dubai with raining boundaries. With Rohit Sharma resting for the match, Kohli opened the innings alongside KL Rahul and the ploy worked. The two added a 119-run stand for the first wicket. Kohli took center stage post that, getting to a majestic ton and helping India post 212/2 in 20 overs. Rahul and Rishabh Pant supported Kohli. In response, Afghanistan was restricted to 111/8 as Bhuvneshwar Kumar (5/4) stood tall. Kohli’s biggest takeaway in this record-breaking effort was that he ended 1000-plus days without a century. His last century came versus Bangladesh in November 2019 at Eden Gardens in a Day/Night Test. Here we decode 7 records Kohli smashed en route to his 122*.
2nd player to smash 3500 runs in T20Is
Kohli went on to amass a 61-ball 122* for India. He smashed 12 fours and six sixes at a strike rate worth 200.00. En route to his brilliant century, Kohli went past 3500 runs in T20Is. The top-order batter has become the second player to get to this milestone. Indian skipper Rohit became the first to have attained this mark. Rohit has accumulated 3,620 runs at 32.32. Kohli has gotten to a tally of 3584 runs at 51.94. Kohli also surpassed Martin Guptill (3497) to become the second highest scorer in this format,
Most fifty-plus scores in T20Is
Kohli now has 33 fifty-plus scores in T20Is. Besides his maiden century, he also has 32 fifties under his belt. His previous best score in T20Is was 94*. Kohli has surpassed Rohit for this record. The Hitman has pummelled 32 fifty-plus scores. He has smashed 28 fifties and four tons. Notably, he hit 72 versus Sri Lanka in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup to get to 32 fifty-plus scores.
Highest individual score by an Indian in T20Is
Kohli is now the highest individual scorer for India in T20Is. His 122* bettered the mark of 118 by Rohit against Sri Lanka in Indore in 2017. Kohli has also become the sixth centurion for India in T20Is. He follows the likes of Rohit (4), KL Rahul (2), Suresh Raina (1), Suryakumar Yadav (1), and Deepak Hooda (1). Notably, Hooda and Surya were the last two centurions for India in recent times this year.
71st international century for Kohli
Kohli is now the second joint-highest centurion in international cricket. He has equalled the tally of former Australian ace Ricky Ponting, who had 71 tons across Tests and ODI cricket. Kohli has, however, reached the mark in lesser innings than Ponting. Kohli has taken 522 innings for 71 tons, as Ponting took 668 innings. Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for most centuries (100). He achieved the mark in 782 innings.
Highest T20 score for Kohli
Kohli has now registered his highest score in overall T20 cricket. His previous best score in T20s was for RCB in the IPL versus Punjab in 2016. He had smashed 113 from 50 balls in that game. Kohli now has six T20 hundred. All of his previous five tons came for RCB in the IPL. His scores for RCB read 113, 109, 108, 100, and 100.
Joint-fourth fastest ton for India
Kohli is now the joint fourth-fastest centurion for India in T20Is. He brought up his century in 53 balls, equalling the mark of KL Rahul versus England in Manchester back in 2018. Rohit has hit the fastest century for India, taking 35 balls. He achieved the milestone versus Sri Lanka in 2017. It’s the joint-fastest century in T20Is alongside David Miller and S Wickramasakera.
100 T20I sixes for Kohli
Kohli, who hit six sixes versus the Afghans, broke the barrier of 100 maximums. He has 104 sixes and is the second Indian to do so after Rohit, who has amassed 171 maximums. Overall, Kohli has become the 10th player in T20Is to have hit 100-plus sixes.