Former India captain Virat Kohli notched up his 30th century in Test cricket, nearly 500 days after his last ton against the same opponents, off 143 balls with two sixes and eight fours on Day 3 of the 1st India vs Australia 2024 Test in Perth on Sunday. It was Kohli’s 9th century against the Australians, equalling Steve Smith’s record in India vs Australia matches.
Kohli’s ton came in front of his son Akaay, who cheered his father on from his mother Anushka Sharma’s arms at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The pics of Akaay in Anushka Sharma’s arms soon went viral on social media.
Virat Kohli’s son Akaay at Optus Stadium in Perth. (Source: Instagram)
Kohli credited his Bollywood star wife Anushkar Sharma for being his rock through turbulent times in his international career. “Anushka has been right by my side through thick and thin. She knows everything that goes on behind the scenes. Knows what goes on in the head when you’re not performing well. I’m not a guy who hangs around for the sake of it. I take pride in performing for the country,” Kohli said after his century.
Kohli now has 9 centuries and 5 fifties in 26 Tests against Australia while Tendulkar had 11 tons in 39 Tests against the Aussies. It was Kohli’s 81st century in international, more than a year after his 80th ton which came in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 semifinal against New Zealand.
In the process, Kohli smashed Tendulkar’s record by becoming the fastest batter to 81 international centuries. While Kohli took 603 innings to achieve the feat, Tendulkar’s record came in 644 innings.
Kohli returned to form with a morale-boosting ton after Yashasvi Jaiswal’s masterful 161 as India declared their second innings for 487 for six, setting Australia a victory target of 534 on Day 3 of the opening Test. The Royal Challengers Bangalore batter smashed eight fours and two sixes during his unbeaten 100 off 143 balls, forging a 89-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Washington Sundar (29) and unfinished 77 off 54 balls with Nitesh Reddy (38 not out) to bat Australia out of the match.
The Indian batter also equalled legendary Sunil Gavaskar’s record of most Test tons in an away country for India. Kohli now has 7 tons in Australia, same as Gavaskar’s 7 centuries vs West Indies.
Kohli also equals Englishman Wally Hammond’s record of most tons by a visiting batter in Australia. Both Hammond and Kohli have 7 tons down under. Only Jack Hobbs is ahead of them with 9 tons in Australia.
