Skipper Virat becomes first Test centurion (103 not out) at India's latest Test centre in MP
Virat Kohli during to his 103 not out on Day 1 of the third Test against NZ in Indore on Saturday. Pic/PTI
Indore: Virat Kohli roared back to form with a superbly crafted century on a tricky pitch to take India to a comfortable 267 for three against New Zealand on Day One of the third Test at the Holkar Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
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The Indian skipper, who went without a 50 plus score in his last seven innings across five Tests, was back in his elements, stroking an unbeaten 103 — his 13th hundred in 48th match.
Kohli's century was also the first by any batsman from the either side in this three-match series. He was complemented brilliantly by Ajinkya Rahane, who was scratchy to begin with but settled down well to remain unbeaten on 79. The duo added 167 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket in 54 overs after New Zealand had initially pegged India back at 100 for three in 36 overs.
While it wasn't a treacherous pitch to bat on, it was indeed a tricky surface which got slower with passage of time and both Kohli and Rahane displayed excellent batsmanship during their unbroken stand.
Kohli's 100 came off 184 balls. In all he played 191 deliveries on the day hitting 10 boundaries while Rahane's 172 ball knock had nine boundaries and a big six over square leg off Jeetan Patel's delivery. Kohli, on the other hand, reached his milestone with a scampered single, surviving a direct hit at the non-striker's end. Once the third umpire ruled 'Not Out', the celebrations were muted by standards of the Indian captain even as a vocal crowd at the Holkar Stadium gave him a standing ovation.
India's Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored 41 on Saturday, praised the batting of captain Kohli and Rahane. "Virat and Ajinkya batted really well. Virat played a very good innings and got the first century (from either side) in the series and Ajinkya too batted well. Their partnership (unconquered 167 for fourth wicket) was crucial and if the partnership carries on tomorrow (Saturday) it will be good for us," he said.
Gautam Gambhir (29) made a good start hitting a couple of pulled sixes off pacer Matt henry but could not capitalise on the chance that he got after more than two years as Trent Boult found him plumb in-front.
2013
The year in which India's Virat Kohli last scored a century on home soil
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