Asia Cup: Kohli goes berserk; scores international ton after 3 years

Dubai: Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli, at last, pulled him out of a jinx that loomed over his head for three years, serving a drought of International centuries. India, who couldn't reach the final of the Asia Cup 2022, scored a 212/2 batting first against Afghanistan.

In the Super Four stage of the tournament on Thursday, the star batter smashed a weak Afghanistan to hit an international century after 1020 days. The century, out of mere 53 balls, was Kohli's 71st international century and the maiden T20I century. He scored 122 not out in 61 balls with 12 boundaries and six over-the-fences.

Afghanistan made a big mistake on the field, dropping Kohli near the fences at 7.3 overs when his score was 28 of 19.

Virat Kohli last scored an international century in a day-night Test against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens in November 2019. For the last three years, he has been fighting like anything to keep himself on the pitch and find runs. He was scrutinized by many for his lofty performance at with bat by many, and he had voiced on social media the hard time he had had for a long time. He expressed how his mental equilibrium was weakened due to the form out as well as the public scrutiny during the last three years.

On Thursday, Kohli opened the batting with KL Rahul since regular opener Rohit Sharma was put to rest. He put on a quickfire stand with Rahul and went wildfire in the final overs of the innings.

More on the line, Kohli completed 3500 runs during the course of the innings, becoming the second men's player to the landmark in T20Is after Rohit Sharma. He also became the 10th man to hit 100 sixes in T20Is during the shining innings.