Virat got off to a rambunctious start in 2023 as he hammered a clinical century against Sri Lanka in the series opener that helped India pile up a staggering 373 on the cards wherein the visitors were left reeling in agony, thanks to an emphatic display from the Indian bowlers.
This was also his second consecutive ODI century as the preceding one came against Bangladesh in the final ODI where he stitched a humongous partnership with Ishan Kishan to catapult India to a momentous figure on the cards.
However, the current wave of domination that Virat has found himself riding high upon came on the back of a three-year spell of desperation, woes and misery. Even the slenderest of nicks carried to the slip cordons while the most extraordinary catches were plucked mid-air. It all started changing when Virat Kohli returned to cricket after a one-month break where he entirely exiled himself from the sport and his arrival in Asia Cup heralded an era of domination already being written on the wall.
The much-awaited 71st international ton came against Afghanistan where India called the shots firmly and it left the world in tears of joy and explosive bursts of exhilaration. However, the world had reasons to believe that a century against Afghanistan was a mere walk in the park that didn’t really signify the true brilliance that Kohli is usually known for.
Lambasting those who called Afghanistan just an easy opponent to score a century against, former Pakistani opener, Salman Butt heaped plaudits on Virat Kohli, stating, “He scored a century against Afghanistan at the Asia Cup. They have a strong bowling attack. How many batters have scored a century against them? People often say that it is a weak team or a flat track whenever Kohli scores a century. That guy has done it 73 times. I don’t know why certain fans do this. This guy is a cricketing genius.”
Speaking on his own Youtube Channel, Butt further added, “Virat Kohli’s knock against Pakistan during the T20 World Cup was a very special one. It’s never easy to play in such a fashion, especially when you are going through a form slump. Such knocks take a player to the next level.” Quickly throwing in some context, Kohli smashed a crushing 82 from just 53 balls against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup, snatching away the contest from the very jaws of defeat. He will be in action on Wednesday against Sri Lanka as India takes the yard again for the second ODI at the Eden Gardens.
