Leading by example, India skipper Virat Kohli scored his 21st Test century off 146 balls to help the visitors put up a strong fightback against South Africa on Day 3 of the second Test at the Supersport Park, Centurion, on Monday. (DAY 3 LIVE UPDATES | LIVE SCORECARD)
India were 207/5, trailing South Africa by 128 runs when Kohli completed his hundred. With this hundred, Kohli is the second captain from subcontinent after Sachin Tendulkar to slam a Test hundred in South Africa.
The 29-year-old Delhi batsman struck 10 boundaries in his illustrious 146-ball knock. Kohli stood for the side in the tough time as India had lost half the side but the captain appeared unshaken.
Kohli now has 11 Test hundreds outside India (in 57 innings) and 10 in India (in 52 innings).
Along with opener Murali Vijay (46), Kohli put a 79-run partnership stand for the third-wicket after India suffered early blows in the shape of KL Rahul (10) and Cheteshwar Pujara (0).
With his knock on Monday, the right-handed batsman replied critics who slammed him for his failure in Cape Town and selection in the Centurion Test.
Former India cricketers such as Virender Sehwag, Sunil Gavaskar and VVS Laxman questioned Kohli's decision that saw exclusion of Shikhar Dhawan, Wriddhiman Saha and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Opener KL Rahul replaced Dhawan, keeper Parthiv Patel came in place of Saha and Bhuvneshwar was replaced by lanky speedster Ishant Sharma.
Adding more fuel to the fire, Sehwag asked the Indian skipper to drop himself in the third Test at Johannesburg if he fails to perform in Centurion.
"Watching Virat Kohli exclude Shikhar Dhawan for just one Test failure, and Bhuvneshwar for no reason at all, Kohli should drop himself in the third Test at Johannesburg, if he fails to perform in Centurion," Sehwag, who is India TV's cricket expert, said on the show 'Cricket Ki Baat'.
In Cape Town, Kohli lost his wickets cheaply for five and 28 runs and India lost the opening Test by 72 runs. Currently, South Africa lead the three-match Test series by 1-0, but watching Kohli's determined stance, fans hope for a victory this time.
