Kohli scored his first international cent after 989 days precisely to light up the dead rubber. His 71st cent also puts him alongside the great Ricky Ponting in the list of most centuries. Sachin Tendulkar is still far ahead with 100 international tons.
The milestone we’ve all been waiting for and here it is! 71st international century for @imVkohli 🔥💥#AsiaCup2022… https://t.co/Dpj6yi0AWL
— BCCI (@BCCI) 1662653049000
“The last two and a half years have taught me a lot. I’m going to be 34 in a month, so those angry celebrations are a thing of the past,” Kohli said at the innings break.
“I was actually shocked. It was the last format I thought of. It was an accumulation of a lot of things. The team was open and helpful.”
Kohli credited his wife, actress Anushka Sharma, for standing behind him like a rock during his turbulent times.
“I know there was a lot of stuff coming out. And I kissed my ring. You see me standing here because one person put things in perspective for me. It’s Anushka. This hundred is for her and for our little girl Vamika too.
“When you have someone next to you who has conversations that put things into perspective, like Anushka was… when I came back, I wasn’t desperate. Six weeks off, I was refreshed. I realized how tired I was.
“Competitiveness doesn’t allow it, but this break has allowed me to enjoy the game again,” he said in reference to his month-long break.
By his own admission, it was the first time in 10 years that Kohli had not held his bat for a month.