Asia Cup 2022: Kohli muses on hard times following the end of the century drought
Virat Kohli, who achieved his 71st international century and first in T20I cricket against Afghanistan in Dubai on Thursday, discussed the difficult moments he had during his century slump.
He got to 25 off 16 balls after the first six overs, and it took him 32 balls to reach his third fifty of the tournament.
The 71st 💯 is here!
A hundred after nearly three years for Virat Kohli 🔥#INDvAFG | #AsiaCup2022 | Scorecard: https://t.co/z8iw8dn85Q pic.twitter.com/qyp1cHiOsX
— ICC (@ICC) September 8, 2022
Following the milestone, the former captain went all out, scoring his next 50 runs in only 21 balls. He ended with an undefeated 122 off 61 balls, the best T20I score by an Indian player.
After hitting his 71st international century, matching former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, after an almost three-year dry spell and a month-and-a-half sabbatical from the game, Kohli himself was shocked by his maiden T201 century, which moved India to 212/2.
What happens when @ImRo45 interviews @imVkohli ☺️ 👏
Laughs, mutual admiration & a lot of respect 😎- by @ameyatilak
Full interview 📽️https://t.co/8bVUaa0pUw #TeamIndia | #AsiaCup2022 | #INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/GkdPr9crLh
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 9, 2022
“I feel very blessed, very grateful right now. Last two and a half years has taught me a lot. I’m going to turn 34 in November, so celebrations are all from the past,” Kohli told reporters
“I have put a lot of things in perspective and, actually I was a bit shocked because this was the format I least expected a century to come any time soon, but it’s all God’s blessings, I have been working hard and this was just a moment which was very special for me and the team as well,” he added.
Wishes galore from the cricketing world for @imVkohli as he gets to his 71st International Century 👏👏#AsiaCup2022 #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/EELvAPQ3kQ
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 8, 2022
“It was an accumulation of a lot of things, as I said, when I came back into the team, the team’s been really open and welcoming and helpful, given me space to work on my game. I know there was a lot of stuff going on on the outside but they really kept my perspective right, and I kissed my ring in the celebration as well,” Kohli said.
For his excellent century and knock of 122*, @imVkohli is adjudged Player of the Match as India win by 101 runs.
Scorecard – https://t.co/QklPCXU2GZ #INDvAFG #AsiaCup2022 pic.twitter.com/l6dACGufec
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 8, 2022
“You see me standing here like this right now because all the things that have been put in perspective have been done by one person, who stood by me through all these difficult times, that’s Anushka and this hundred is specially dedicated to her and our little daughter Vamika as well,” he remarked.
