November 24, 2024: Virat Kohli’s 81st international century in Perth was a momentous occasion, not just for his cricketing career but also for his personal life.
He dedicated the achievement to his wife, Anushka Sharma. Kohli, who had been struggling with form in recent times, spoke emotionally about how Anushka has been his unwavering support during tough times. “She has been right by my side through thick and thin,” he said, acknowledging how well she understands his struggles, particularly when he had to deal with the mental challenges of returning to form after a lean patch.
The century, which came after a wait of over 500 days in the longest format, was a significant one for Kohli as it marked his return to top form in a country where he has enjoyed immense success—Australia. His last Test century in Australia came in December 2018, also at Perth. His knock of 100* off 143 balls, which included 8 fours and 2 sixes, came at a strike rate of 69.93, displaying a calm yet aggressive approach that was much needed for his team in a crucial Test match.
After raising his bat to acknowledge the milestone, Kohli took a moment to reflect on the journey, which he described as “amazing,” especially with Anushka being there in the stadium to share in the joy. His emotional connection with the moment was clear as he acknowledged how much this century meant, both personally and professionally.
This 81st century brought Kohli closer to his ultimate goal of surpassing his idol, Sachin Tendulkar, for the most international centuries. Kohli now has 30 Test centuries to his name, a remarkable achievement in just 119 matches, with 9,145 runs at an average of 48.13. His career tally includes 54 List-A centuries, 9 T20 centuries, and 37 first-class centuries, making him the 12th player in cricket history to complete 100 centuries in professional cricket.
Kohli’s achievements in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) are also impressive. His 2,000th run in the BGT came during this series, making him the seventh player in history to reach that landmark. In 26 BGT matches, he has scored 2,147 runs, including 9 centuries and 5 fifties, at an average of 48.79. This includes his best score of 186.
Notably, this century in Australia was Kohli’s seventh Test ton on Australian soil, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of six Test centuries in Australia. This achievement makes him the Indian batter with the most Test centuries in Australia. He has now equalled England’s Wally Hammond for the second-most Test centuries in Australia, with the record held by Jack Hobbs of England, who scored nine centuries in Australia.
In total, Kohli has scored 1,457 Test runs in Australia at an average of 56.03, with seven centuries and four fifties, further solidifying his place as one of the greatest foreign batters to ever play in Australia. He has also become the most prolific international centurion in Australia, with 12 centuries across formats, taking his tally to 3,531 runs in 43 matches at an average of 56.95. This achievement also ties him with Sunil Gavaskar for the most Test centuries in a single foreign country (7 against Australia), and with Tendulkar for the joint third-most centuries by an Indian against a single opponent (9 centuries against Australia), behind only Gavaskar’s 13 centuries against the West Indies.
In summary, Kohli’s performance in Perth not only saw him return to form but also elevate his legacy with record-breaking feats across formats and opponents. His dedication to Anushka, his emotional connection to the century, and his continued chase for Tendulkar’s record underscore both his cricketing and personal journey.