Virat Kohli scores poised 71st century, answers many questions, raises more about batting order

Virat Kohli scripted what will be the only story worth remembering in the sordid drama that has been India’s Asia Cup 2022 journey. The former India skipper finally found his 71^st international century, a feat that also made him the top scorer for India in T20 Internationals.

As much as the century was a treat in sheer class and confidence, much akin to the Kohli we had come to see, it was also an inning that will surely once more throw up questions about where in the Indian batting order should Kohli be. The noise to promote him as an opener will now just get louder.

Kohli did come in as opener in this last Super 4 match of the tournament for both sides, since skipper Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Yuzvendra Chahal were rested to bring in Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, and Deepak Chahar. As Kohli and stand-in skipper KL Rahul were sent in to bat, several things came up as a stark difference from what has been India’s approach till now.

For once, neither batter was in any mad rush to go after the bowling. In contrast, they were sedate. But neither missed an opportunity to score. Quite a stark contrast from the manner in which India had been going after the bowling in the Asia Cup till now.

The milestone we’d all been waiting for and here it is!

71st International Century for @imVkohli