India’s batting superstar Virat Kohli finally ended his century drought in international cricket during an Asia Cup 2022 Super Four match against Afghanistan in Dubai on Thursday (September 8).
The dashing right-hander smashed an amazing knock of 122* off just 61 balls, his maiden T20I century, to help Team India beat Afghanistan by 101 runs in the Super Four match on Thursday.
It is the highest score by an Indian batter in T20Is and his 71st ton in international cricket which came after a gap of almost three years.
Reacting to Kohli’s century that came after over 1000 days, former India head coach Ravi Shastri said that the former skipper would have certainly felt five kilograms less waiting for him after he ended his century drought.
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Ravi Shastri said on Star Sports: “You mentioned 1020 days; I can say 700 days I was in that dressing room when that happened. It's been a long time. The monkey is off his back now. When you had astounding success like he has when 70 hundreds come like this, then you go through a patch of one, two years, two-and-half years, two-and-three quarter years, and then everyday people start reminding - 'It's been that long'.”
He continued, “He is human. It would have been eating him up. He would be getting up every morning, whether thinking of it or not, subconsciously being reminded. Today, I think he will be five kilos less. Don't ask me where the weight has gone from, five kilos less at least from the head.”
Shastri concluded, “You could see from the last 40 runs of his innings. It was Virat Kohli. His trademark shots, the confidence, the poise, the utter disdain for bowling is back. It took a long time coming.”
(With PTI Inputs)
