Watch: Virat Kohli Kisses Ring Around His Neck To Celebrate His Maiden T20I Century vs Afghanistan

India’s Virat Kohli finally got the monkey off his back by scoring his first international century since November 2019 and dedicated the same to his wife Anushka Sharma and daughter Vamika. His knock came against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup 2022’s super 4s match in Dubai on September 8, 2022.

Afghanistan and India are both eliminated from the race to the final and this match is more for pride than anything else. Afghan captain Mohammad Nabi won the toss and chose to bowl first, a decision he later regretted.

KL Rahul captained the Indian team in absence of Rohit Sharma who was rested along with Hardik Pandya and Yuzvendra Chahal. In came Dinesh Karthik, Deepak Chahar, and Akshar Patel. Afghanistan was unchanged.

Rahul and Virat Kohli opened the innings for India and smashed Afghanistani bowlers to all parts of the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, adding 119 runs for the first wicket, before Rahul fell for 61 runs with 6 fours and 2 sixes. Suryakumar Yadav hit a six-first ball he faced and got out on the next.

Rishabh Pant came in at no.4 and remained unbeaten on 20*, but the innings belonged to Virat Kohli, who hammered his maiden T20I century, finishing on 122* in 61 balls with 12 fours and 6 sixes to his name.

With this ton, he became the 4^th Indian to score centuries in all three international formats after Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Suresh Raina. This was also his 71^st international ton and he celebrated it by kissing a ring he wears around his neck.

Watch the video here:

pic.twitter.com/4zis02B2jB

— pant shirt fc (@shirt_fc) September 8, 2022

This Hundred Is For Anushka Sharma And For Our Little Daughter Vamika As Well: Virat Kohli

After his record-breaking century, which also became the highest individual T20I score by an Indian, leaving Rohit Sharma’s 118, Virat Kohli had a chat with commentators and expressed his gratitude towards his wife Anushka Sharma for sticking with him through the testing times.

He said: “Last two and a half years have taught me a lot. I am going to turn 34 in a month. So those angry celebrations are a thing of the past. Actually, I was shocked. This is the last format I thought. 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… when I came back I was not desperate. Six weeks off I was refreshed. I realised how tired I was. Competitiveness doesn’t allow it, but this break allowed me enjoy the game again.”

Virat Kohli also equaled Ricky Ponting’s record of 71 international tons and now sits at the joint second spot behind Sachin Tendulkar.

Also Read: IND vs AFG: Revealed – Why Rohit Sharma Is Not Playing Tonight Against Afghanistan