Fifteen years later, the jersey changed — but the hunger, swagger, and cover drive remained untouched.
It won’t be an exaggeration to say that Virat Kohli is in his peak form in ODI games after his surreal 2016 calendar. After a successful series against South Africa with two consecutive centuries and a fierce fifty, King Kohli has continued his form in domestic games as well. Before this, the former Indian captain made his comeback to the Vijay Hazare Trophy after 15 years and he simply told the world why he is considered the best in the business.
On the classic winter afternoon on 24th December at the Centre of Excellence (CoE), Kohli showcased another example of his pure class and dominance in white ball cricket. While fans were waiting to welcome their favourite star to the domestic circuit, Kohli gave them a big reason to celebrate- a vintage Virat Kohli century.
A Century in the Comeback Game
While representing Delhi against Andhra Pradesh, the giant of ODI games took every opponent bowler on remand. It was a joyful moment when he smashed Nitish Kumar Reddy inside-out over covers. It was not just a shot but a statement that the vintage Kohli still holds the fire and that powertouch. However, the shot of the afternoon came in the third over when Virat took charge again against Nitish Reddy. He stood tall, rose onto his toes and punched him on the up over extra cover, and the ball sailed over the ropes. It was a cameraworthy moment as the stylish Kohli held the pose for a few seconds towards the bowler. On the other end Priyansh Arya was running with his well-known pace and scored a 31-ball fifty. While Kohli reached his half-century on the 39th ball he faced. Both batters did not allow Andhra bowlers and the fielding unit to breathe as they together put 113 runs in just 11.5 overs.
Furthermore, the run machine Kohli did not stop and continued to test the Andhra bowlers. A thump over mid-off to hit a six and reach 80s, a stunning straight drive for six to reach into 90s, and then came the dream comeback. Virat Kohli, the chasemaster, reached the milestone of a century one more time and after 15 years in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. His fabulous inning of 131 took Delhi in a very good position. Before this, the Andhra Pradesh team had put 298/8 on board, where Simranjeet Singh took a fifer. In return, the Delhi team got a fierce start with the bats of Virat Kohli and Priyansh Arya.
Besides this, Kohli has now surpassed his idol Sachin Tendulkar to become the fastest player to reach 16,000 runs in List A games. With the help of his stunning knock, Delhi reached the total in just 37.4 overs and set the tone for the championship.
Also Read: Virat Kohli to Play First Two Matches in Vijay Hazare Trophy
Ro-Ko Showcased The Masterclass
Meanwhile Rohit Sharma also presented a masterclass in his own fashion. While batting against Sikkim in Jaipur, Rohit made his comeback in the Vijay Hazare Trophy after seven years with a blistering 155. This will definitely give a positive boost to their fans as well as the selectors that these stalwarts of Indian cricket are in great touch. Keeping the upcoming World Cup 2027, these knocks shall give confidence to the management that Kohli and Rohit are going to be the key players in India’s camp for the World Cup.
Did this century give you goosebumps too? Tell us where this knock ranks among Kohli’s most special innings.
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