RETURN OF THE KING

Kohli Breaks Century Drought After Nearly. Three Years With 61-Ball 122* Against Afghans.

Dubai: After 1020 days of agony, anxiety and scrutiny, Virat Kohli got an international hundred on Thursday night. The wait for his 71st international ton ended when he disdainfully smacked Afghanistan’s Fareed Ahmad over the mid-wicket boundary to bring up his first T20I century off just 53 balls.

As he took off his helmet, raised his bat to the sparse crowd in the stadium and kissed the wedding ring in his necklace, Kohli’s gentle smile highlighted the relief he must have felt. Only an event as special as this could have injected some interest in the match against Afghanistan, which had no consequence in the context of the Asia Cup.

For a man with great affinity for occasions, Kohli would have loved to have the moment come in a match of greater significance. But, given how hostile things have been for him over the last one year or so, he will take every bit of success that comes his way. Kohli arrived here in Dubai with a question mark over his place in the T20 team. He leaves as India’s highest scorer in the tournament by a distance.

His innings of an unbeaten 122 off 61 balls (with 12 fours and six sixes), which had one blemish when he was dropped on 28 by Ibrahim Zadran at deep mid-wicket off captain Mohammad Nabi, helped India post a mammoth total of 212/2.