"I doubt an overseas player in the last 15 years has come to Australia and played in this fashion" - Ravi Shastri hails 'King' Virat Kohli
Former Indian all-rounder Ravi Shastri effusively praised Virat Kohli after the latter notched up his 30th Test ton on Day 3 of the Perth Test against Australia on Sunday, November 24. Referring to the batter's spectacular record in Australia, Shastri opined that very few cricketers have dominated the Aussies at home in the manner has Kohli has done over the last decade and a half.
Kohli came into the Perth Test under a lot of pressure after scoring less than 100 runs in six innings during the three-match Test series at home against New Zealand. The 36-year-old was dismissed for five in the first innings of the Perth Test, fending a short ball from Josh Hazlewood to the slips. The former India captain, however, roared back to form with 100* off 143 on Day 3 of the Test.
With the hundred on Sunday, Kohli went past Sachin Tendulkar to become the Indian batter with most Test tons in Australia. The century in Perth was his seventh, while Tendulkar notched up six Test hundreds Down Under.
Shastri hailed Kohli and told Fox Cricket (as quoted by ANI):
"I doubt an overseas player in the last 15 years has come to Australia and played in this fashion. Seven hundreds in Australia. The big stage, the big ground. One of the bounciest pitches in the world. He plays two Test matches and he gets two hundreds. You cannot get a better stage and to set up the series."
"They call him the King. To get a hundred in the very first Test match of the series. It is a terrific signal for India. It is ominous from Australia's point of view. But look at the joy. It's a popular hundred and I think fans the world over wanted to see this bloke come to Australia and perform again," the 62-year-old added.
Kohli struck eight fours and two sixes in his sublime knock before Jasprit Bumrah declared India's second innings at 487-6. Set a target of 534 to win the Perth Test, Australia went to stumps on Day 3 at 12-3.
"In the first 10 minutes, you saw his feet moving" - Shastri on Kohli's fluent ton
While Kohli has been struggling for runs in 2024, Shastri opined that the 36-year-old looked in rhythm when he walked out to bat in Perth on Day 3. The former India head coach asserted that the batter's positive footwork was a sign of things to come. Shastri elaborated:
"This is a special moment. He will have a tear in his eye. He has worked so hard for it. But sometimes with great players the moment they come in... From the outset in the first 10 minutes, you saw his feet moving. You knew the signs were there that the big man is back."
After Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for 161 on Day 3, Kohli added 89 for the sixth wicket with Washington Sundar (29) and an unbroken 77 for the seventh wicket with Nitish Kumar Reddy (38* off 27).