Indian off-spinner R Ashwin reflected on Virat Kohli’s 71st ton. He said that the right-hander returning to form is an extraordinary sign for Indian cricket and the batter himself.
Everyone was arguing in which Test or ODI he would score a hundred but nobody thought that he would get his 100 in the T20 cricket – R Ashwin
Virat Kohli finally scored his 71st century in the Asia Cup 2022. He smashed unbeaten 122 runs in India’s last game against Afghanistan. The former Indian skipper, who scored his last ton in November 2019, silenced all the critics related to his form.
He opened the innings for India and in what was a pure masterclass from him he made a mockery of Afghanistan bowlers. The 33-year-old first negotiated the tricky phase with the bat and when he was set he took the bowlers to the cleaners and smashed them all over the park.
Virat Kohli is 207 runs away from surpassing Rahul Dravid to become India's 2nd highest run getter in international cricket.
Advertisement— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 13, 2022
Coming into the tournament, Kohli was under a lot of pressure as he had a series of low scores behind him. However, he stole the limelight with his firepower and ended the tournament as the second-highest run-scorer with 276 runs to his name at an average of 92.
Kohli’s teammate R Ashwin said that everyone thought that he would get his hundred in Tests or ODI but he smashed in the T20I game. Speaking in a video posted on his YouTube channel, he said:
“Everyone was arguing in which Test or ODI he would score a hundred. Nobody would have guessed he would get his 100 in a T20I match against Afghanistan. But his 71st hundred came in that game only.
“As a teammate, and as a person who has been following his career for a long time, and as a well-wisher of Indian cricket, this hundred is an extraordinary sign for Indian cricket and Virat. It will be a monkey off his back, I believe. He played exceptionally well and will be relieved.”
R Ashwin calls Virat Kohli’s 71st century an extraordinary knock
The main highlight of his innings was he placed all the shots in gaps and looked very settled. He smashed 12 fours and six sixes during his knock and it was rated highly by many fans and experts.
R Ashwin highlighted how Kohli set the tone of his innings by playing different shots. He said:
Virat Kohli is the 4th highest run-getter in T20 history.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 12, 2022
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“When Kohli plays well, the switch-off shots really come good. For example, his pull shot. He also came down the track and played a flip over straight mid-wicket for a six off Rashid Khan. The sweep he played off Mujeeb (Ur Rahman) in the sixth over set the ball rolling. Extraordinary knock.”
Kohli will be next seen in the action when India will play the T20I series against Australia and South Africa at home.
