Watch: Virat Kohli gives flying kiss to Anushka Sharma after scoring his 81st century

Watch: Virat Kohli back to form as he hits his 30th Test Hundred during Perth Test. (Source – Twitter/X)

Star India batter Virat Kohli returned to form in the longest format of the game with a magnificent century against Australia on Day 3 of the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Perth’s Optus Stadium. His unbeaten 100 off 143 deliveries strengthened India’s grip on the match.

The century, Kohli’s first international hundred of 2024, came at a crucial point when the visitors were looking to accelerate their second innings. Building on the position by opener Yashasvi Jaiswal’s spectacular 161 and KL Rahul’s solid 77, Kohli quickly adapted to the challenging Perth surface, playing his strokes freely.

While he walked back to the dressing room after the declaration, he blew kisses towards the spectators and his wife who were cheering for him from the stands. The global icon was looking to come back in his form after it became a topic of discussion lately.

Watch the video of Kohli’s celebration below: 

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Anushka has been right by my side through thick and thin: Virat Kohli

His knock, studded with eight boundaries and two sixes, took him to his 30th Test century, surpassing the legendary Don Bradman’s tally. Furthermore, it was Kohli’s seventh Test hundred on Australian soil, making him the Indian batter with the most centuries Down Under, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record of six.

Kohli had a quick chat with Adam Gilchrist before trudging past the ropes and mentioned that his wife has always been by his side all the time.

“Anushka has been right by my side through thick and thin. She knows everything that goes on behind the scene, what goes on in the head when you don’t play as well, and you make a few mistakes after getting yourself in. I just wanted to contribute to the team’s cause, I don’t want to hang around just for the sake of it, I take pride in performing for the country. Feels amazing, the fact that she’s here makes it more special,” Kohli said.

The veteran’s acceleration seemed perfectly synchronized with the team’s plans, as he increased his scoring rate after reaching his half-century. The message from the dressing room regarding stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah’s intention to declare appeared to have influenced his approach. Supported by an aggressive Nitish Reddy, who remained unbeaten on 38, Kohli’s century helped India declare at 487 for 6, giving the hosts a target of 534.

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