File image of Virat Kohli©AFP
It seems like Virat Kohli can’t stop hitting new highs. The former captain of the Indian cricket team played his 500th international match and made the occasion extra special by scoring his 76th international ton and his 29th Test ton. This is Kohli’s first hundred in an overseas test since December 2018. The end of the long wait in his landmark match, which is also the 100th test between India and the West Indies, made the performance memorable. Also, Kohli now has the most international tons in 500 matches, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar who scored 75 international tons in his first 500 international matches.
Kohli is also the first ever player to score a century in his 500th international match. Kohli now collectively has the second most tons against the West Indies. His count of 12 centuries is only behind Sunil Gavaskar’s mark of 13 centuries. Jacques Kallis from South Africa also has 12 tons.
Earlier on Day 1 of the Second Test, Openers Rohit Sharma (80 from 143) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (57 from 74) shared a solid 139-run stand to provide another perfect launch pad before the West Indies struck four times in the afternoon session to put the brakes on India’s scoring percentage on Thursday.
Kohli (87 at bats on 161) and Ravindra Jadeja (36 at bats at 84) played some superb strokes in the final session and saw India collect 106 runs in 33.2 overs without losing a wicket. Kohli, who came off target with a straight drive after consuming 20 dotballs, will enter day two with just 13 runs short of his first hundred in an overseas test since December 2018. The majority of his six bounds fell offside, including a perfect cover drive from a Kemar Roach half-volley in the 57th over.
With PTI inputs
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