Virat Kohli put to rest the demons of 2014 England tour where he scored just 134 runs in 10 innings; by scoring a scintillating 149 off 225 balls in the first Test against England at Edgbaston.

Kohli was looking at trouble, as Sam Curran’s triple strikes in eight balls and then some poor shot selection left India 100/5, in reply to England’s 287. Indian openers and middle order crumbled against some brilliant swing and seam bowling of England, but Virat Kohli kept on going.

He farmed the strike with R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma and even no.11 Umesh Yadav, adding more than 50 runs for the last wicket. Kohli was given reprieves at 21 and 51 when Dawid Malan dropping him in slips both the time. Kohli didn’t need a third chance and stroked his way to his 22^nd Test century and was the last man out on 149, trying to get par with England’s total.

Post-match, during an interview, Virat Kohli was asked to rate this innings of his against some of the best he has played over the years outside India. He was asked to compare it with Adelaide, New Zealand, South Africa and others and Virat Kohli comes up with a brilliant answer.

“This knock could probably come in second to Adelaide. It still remains very special to me because it was the second innings and we were chasing a target. I had clarity that we are chasing a target and not once did I think that we’re not. It is a beautiful zone to be in and today I’m very happy and very grateful to have the opportunity to help the team this way and pull us back in the Test. We’re here to compete, we’re here to fight and we’re going to continue to do that,” he said at the close of play to BCCI.TV.

Virat further said, "It was diffcult but I told myself that it is important to enjoy this. Take it upon me as a challenge to take the team far and take the innings deep. So it was a test of physical and mental strength. But I’m glad that we could come close to their total and we’re pretty much in the game. When you can help the team that way then it obviously feels great.”

“I have to commend the tail as well. Hardik batted really well after we lost five (wickets); the way Umesh (Yadav) and Ishant (Sharma) applied themselves. I think it was an oustanding effort from them also and I have to credit them for getting us this close because they got stuck in there and supported me out there,” he added further.

Here is the video put up on the BCCI official Twitter account: