Cricket
Virat Kohli on Sunday became the second fastest to 25 Test centuries.
Updated : Dec 16, 2018, 03:08 PM IST
Virat Kohli on Sunday became the second fastest to 25 Test centuries with his sixth ton in Australia. Kohli got the milestone in 127 innings- Sachin Tendulkar is third with 130, while Don Bradman managed it in just 68.
Kohli is also the first Indian skipper to breach the milestone and the third overall captain after Australia's Bob Simpson and South Africa's Graeme Smith.
Captain Kohli notches his 25th Test ton. One of the finest from King Kohli #TeamIndia #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/LisPQ6pobc
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 16, 2018
Kohli celebrated the century by suggesting he lets his bat do the talking. Kohli reached his seventh century against Australia in style, playing a classic drive off Mitchell Starc. It was also Kohli's sixth century in Australia, lifting him equal with Tendulkar as the only Indian batsmen to reach that tally, and gave him the honour of becoming the first Test centurion at the new Perth Stadium.
Sachin Tendulkar was among the first to congratulate Kohli.
Well played @imVkohli. One of your finest innings. This knock will be remembered for a long time. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/Gj1dSN4k4p
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 16, 2018
Another Indian legend Sourav Ganguly praised the Indian captain's inning as an absolute masterpiece, while Michael Clarke called Kohli 'class above'.
Absolute masterpiece from kohli at Perth .. @bcci @imVkohli .. two of my greatest I have seen play .. Tendulkar and kohli (not seen bradman or sobers play live )...
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) December 16, 2018
@imVkohli class above
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) December 16, 2018
On reaching the three-figure mark, Kohli removed his helmet and placed it on the green turf at the Optus Stadium. The Indian fans roared from the stands as their hero pointed at his bat and gestured with his fingers in a manner that suggested: 'I let the bat do the talking' rather than the mouth. The innovative celebration caught the attention of the cricket world.
"If anyone has seen a better player across all the different formats then I haven't seen him... @imVkohli is incredible ... Loved his 'let the Bat do the talking' celebration !!" former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeted.
If anyone has seen a better player across all the different formats then I haven’t seen him .. @imVkohli is incredible ... Loved his ‘let the Bat do the talking ‘ celebration !! #AUSvIND #Perth
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 16, 2018
Kohli is now the 11th batsman to complete 1000 Test runs in a calendar year overseas and the third Indian to achieve the mark after Rahul Dravid (1137 runs in 18 innings in 2002) and Mohinder Amarnath (1065 runs in 16 innings in 1983).