Virat Kohli brought up his 18th century in Test cricket with a spectacular six of Suranga Lakmal as India declared their second innings on 352/8 during the first Test at Eden Gardens. Incidentally, this was Kohli’s 50th international hundred and also his 11th Test century as a captain.
Kohli’s third hundred against Sri Lanka came in breathtaking fashion as he stepped out to Lakmal, hit him over the extra-cover region and roared in delight.
In the list of most Test hundreds Virat Kohli is now sixth on the list. Only Mohammad Azharuddin (22) Virender Sehwag (23) Sunil Gavaskar (34) Rahul Dravid (36) and Sachin Tendulkar (51) are ahead of him. In the list of most centuries as a skipper, the 29-year-old has equalled Gavaskar’s tally of 11.
The Indian skipper came into bat on the final day of the Test after KL Rahul was dismissed by Lakmal. After beginning on a cautious note, Kohli took the attack to the bowlers. However, as wickets fell at regular intervals, he held one end and kept the scoreboard ticking. As he neared his century, Kohli cut lose and smashed the Lankan bowlers to all parts of the ground. As India set a target of 231 for the visitors, Kohli remained unbeaten on 104.
