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Virat Kohli bounced back in style with a sparkling century in the Perth Test against Australia.
Virat Kohli scored the 30th century of his Test career in Perth. (AP Photo)
Virat Kohli ended his wait for a 30th Test century during the second innings of the first Test against Australia in Perth. Kohli, who was dismissed cheaply in the first dig of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener, peeled off a strokeful unbeaten hundred that aided in India’s push for a remarkable win.
Kohli hadn’t reached the three-figure mark in Test cricket since July 2023 and his form was a subject of close scrutiny in the lead up to the Australia tour. In his previous 15 innings before breaking the century drought, Kohli had managed only two half-centuries.
As India were bundled out for 150 in their first innings of the Perth Test, Kohli came under more criticism having contributed just five runs. However, with Jasprit Bumrah leading a stunning turnaround with the ball, Kohli returned to form with an unbeaten 100 off 143, an innings that featured eight fours and two sixes.
And Bumrah was all praise for the batting superstar who is widely considered as one of the finest batters of his generation.
“I’ve said this before, Virat Kohli doesn’t need us, we need him,” Bumrah told reporters after India crushed Australia by 295 runs. “He’s an experienced player. This is his fourth or fifth tour. He knows his cricket better than anyone else. He looked in good shape and was mentally switched on.”
Bumrah said Kohli undergoing a lean phase was natural given his long career and it’s not easy to always deliver when the stakes are high.
“Sometimes when you have such a long career, you bat in tough conditions and he has batted in tough scenarios for a long time. But it’s difficult to do that all the time. He got a good delivery in the first innings but he was still in a great space and capitalised in the second innings,” Bumrah said.
“We needed an experienced batter then. He played well and helped his partners play well. When he gets confidence at the start of a series, you can’t ask for more,” he added.
- Location :
Perth (Australia)
