Last Update on: January 15th, 2018 at 04:40 pm
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On a pitch where none of the batsmen from either side found it easy to play their strokes and in a series where no player had scored a century, India skipper Virat Kohli proved his class with a sublime century in the first innings of ongoing second Test against South Africa in Centurion.
The 29-year old had arrived in South Africa on the back of a stunning series against Sri Lanka, scoring a century and two consecutive double centuries but had failed to deliver in the first Test at Newlands, scoring just 5 and 28. However, the right-handed batsman did not waste much time in showing that the failure in the first Test was a mere fluke as he roared back to form when his team needed him the most.
Kohli had joined Murali Vijay at the crease on day two when India were in a spot of bother after losing two wickets off two balls with the scoreboard reading just 28. And while wickets kept on falling at regular intervals from one end, Kohli held firm to lead India’s reply to South Africa’s first innings total of 335. The India batting mainstay finished the day on 85 and as India reached 183 for five at stumps.
Kohli started day three in the same manner and completed his 21st century in the 67th over after taking a double off Lungi Ngidi’s first ball. The celebration after that told the whole story as the ever-energetic Kohli let his emotions out.
Twitter was also quick to acknowledge the special innings from the star batsman.
Here are some of the reactions:
Really solid 100 by virat 👏👏 #INDvsSA
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 15, 2018
Kohli has as many tons in 4 Tests in South Africa as Dravid had in 4 series.
— MV (@mahektetweet) January 15, 2018
Indian captains to score a Test century in South Africa:
Tendulkar, Cape Town, 1996-97 (169 runs)
Kohli, Centurion, 2017-18#SAvInd— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) January 15, 2018
Leading from the front #TeamIndia Skipper @imVkohli as brings up his 21st Test 💯 #FreedomSeries #SAvIND King Kohli 😀 pic.twitter.com/x6DbhBzeFh
— CrickeTendulkar 15921🇮🇳 (@CrickeTendulkar) January 15, 2018
Kohli is the Brand Ambassador of 'Walk The Talk'…top century by a top player. Both Intent and Intensity on show. #SAvIND
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 15, 2018
BIG BIG CONGRATULATIONS CHAMP FOR 21ST TEST CENTURY…LONG WAY TO GO @imVkohli 👑
HATERS GONNA HATE U GONNA ROCK ❤#INDvSA
Pic: SonyTen1 pic.twitter.com/zvr073iZal— ہ، (@aliyaaa_khan) January 15, 2018
A superlative performance by the Skipper @imVkohli as he brings up his 21st Test 💯 #FreedomSeries #SAvIND this deserves celebrations on 🇮🇳side, (Photo credit: @BCCI) pic.twitter.com/q46HfoCR6L
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) January 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/SamreenRazzaqui/status/952821028798873600
Most consecutive conversions from 90s to 100 in Tests for India
16 Virat Kohli (2014-2018)*
16 Sunil Gavaskar (1978-1983)
14 Mohammad Azharuddin (1984-1994)— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) January 15, 2018
Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli are the only captains from the subcontinent to score a Test hundred in South Africa.#SAvIND #INDvSA
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) January 15, 2018
And he walks the talk too. Forgetting the laurels and the lows of the past sets @imVkohli apart. No clutter in that head, just pure class. #IndvSA
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) January 15, 2018
This will surely rank as one of his best hundreds. But @imVkohli still has a job to do. Massive innings for India this. #INDvSA
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) January 15, 2018
Magnificeny century by @imVkohli. Where cricket is concerned, cut from a different cloth…
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 15, 2018
That is test century number 21 for @imVkohli , taking him level with AB de Villiers, among others, on the all-time list. AB's 21 tons have come in 109 tests, Virat's in 65 tests. #SAvsIND
— Gerald Imray (@GeraldImrayAP) January 15, 2018
Virat Kohli become second Indian Captain after Sachin Tendulkar to score test century in South Africa…
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) January 15, 2018
Well done Virat Kohli. Welcome to the 21st century.
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) January 15, 2018
Virat Kohli Becomes Fastest To Score 53 International Centuries. Beats Hashim Amla's Record Of 380 Innings, Took Just 354 Innings To Achieve The Feat. King #ViratKohli. 💪🙏🇮🇳 #INDvSA #IndVsSA #SAvIND #SAvsIND
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) January 15, 2018
