His 71st century may not have been his best performance, but it will undoubtedly be a memorable one.
In one of the longest dry spells for a batsman, Virat Kohli has gone over 940 days without reaching the three-digit mark in an international game. This one has surprised everyone because it happened to a batter who was once thought to be unstoppable till 2019. And to think people grew irritated when it took Sachin Tendulkar 369 days to score his 100th century.
His 71st century may not have been his best performance, but it will undoubtedly be a memorable one. Along with some magnificent boundaries and quick running, I anticipate it will include swings and misses, mishits, and edges when no fielder is present.
He begins with a couple of strong performances, to the oohs and ahhs of the audience. But in a classic Kohli manner, he misses the mark by flicking the ball off his pads for a double.
He quickly reaches his 30s, at which point the pressure is really on the bowlers. It seems like only a second will have passed before he turns 50, a milestone he has achieved several times over the past two years without taking advantage of.
Anyone who can is now either watching the match or following it in some way as peak lunacy sets at the moment he hits the anxious 90s. For a run, there are awful calls. He shouldn’t be playing shots or chasing after balls. He exhibits signs of growing anxiety and impatience. However, he is able to hang on.
All around the country, a billion prayers are recited in the hope that the 71st hundred, who have been so elusive, will finally arrive and put an end to this wait. Then it takes place. He runs off after dropping a short ball in front of the square. You can see the resolve in his eyes and the desire he has inside to simply reach the other side without incident. And he complies.
Kohli understands what has transpired as he approaches the crease. The angry mob behind him is only becoming louder now that he has accomplished it. He clenches his fist, punches the air, jumps in jubilation, removes his helmet, and raises his bat in acknowledgment to the cheering crowd, as well as his teammates and the opponents, who are all taking it all in and giving him a standing ovation.
A recognition of the end of a long-lasting dry spell brought on by a combination of ill-fortune and his deterioration in performance. Regardless of the cause, he may now enjoy the fact that it is finally ended.
The homecoming of the King is celebrated by millions of cricket enthusiasts in India and around the world. Every time there is a post, comment, or tweet on the King, social media activity in India reaches a record high.
He is ultimately too talented of a player to not succeed, thus I am confident that he will. After that, he will resume being himself and producing runs for enjoyment. Everyone is looking forward to seeing that Kohli.