Virat accomplished the milestone in India’s last Super Four clash against Afghanistan in the ongoing 2022 Asian Cup.
Virat has finally completed its long-awaited 71st century. He broke an undefeated 122 in just 61 balls with 12 fours and six sixes.
Now Virat has a total of 104 sixes which is the ninth highest in T20I cricket.
New Zealander Martin Guptill has the most sixes in the format, with a total of 172 sixes. He is followed by Rohit Sharma (171), Chris Gayle of the West Indies (124), England’s Eoin Morgan (120) and Australian fly-half Aaron Finch (117).
Coming to the game, Indian Star batsman Virat Kohli completed his highly anticipated 71st international century and powered India to a whopping 212/2 in their 20 overs in their final Super Four clash against Afghanistan in the Asian Cup 2022 underway on Thursday.
Batted first by Afghanistan, flyhalf KL Rahul and Virat Kohli gave Team India a great start. The run between the wickets by the duo was good as usual. The openers really started to open their arms in the third, with Virat crushing point guard Fazalhaq Farooqi for two fours.
From then on, KL and Virat feasted on Afghan bowlers. Virat Kohli looked in very good contact and hit spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman for two fours and a six in the sixth. After six overs and the power play, India were 52/0, with Virat (25*) and Rahul (26*) unbeaten.
Virat and KL continued to dominate Afghanistan even after the power play. The duo kept the dash in good gear. After 10 overs, India was 87/0, with Rahul (42*) and Virat (44*).
Virat elevated its 33rd half-century to the format with a single. KL Rahul helped the team break through the 100 run mark with a four in 11.2 overs and scored four more on the next ball to raise his fifty.
Average pace Fareed Malik ended the 119-point position between the duo at 13th, tossing Rahul for 62 of 41 balls after the batter was caught by Najibullah Zadran at long range.
Suryakumar Yadav was next and he started his innings with a six on the very first ball, but Fareed got his wicket on the very next ball.
Rishabh Pants was on the fold. He continued to tick the scoreboard with Virat and took India into the last five without further damage. After 15 overs, India was at 134/2, with Pant (6*) and Virat (59*).
Pant and Virat continued their assault on the Afghan bowlers. Virat was the aggressor and ruthlessly pushed the boundaries.
With two overs to go, Pant-Virat presented their 50-point stand. Virat also entered the 90s. Finally, he completed his long-awaited 71st international century and his first in T20Is. India finished their innings at 212/2, with Virat Kohli (122*) and Rishabh Pant (20*). Fareed Malik took 2/57 for Afghanistan.