"To give it back verbally and then score a hundred is even better"- When a pumped-up Virat Kohli reacted after notching up his maiden Ten ton
Former Indian captain Virat Kohli has often delivered his best against Australia down under throughout his illustrious career. The hostile crowds and the Aussie players' verbal barrage to opposition players may have intimidated some of the best batters in the past but not Kohli.
If anything, the champion batter has used that as fuel to produce several match-winning performances in Australia. One such incident was his maiden tour down under in 2011-12 when Kohli was yet to make a name for himself in the red-ball format.
His first four Tests came against the West Indies and an average of just over 27 with two half-centuries was all he had to show for. Things worsened in the 2011-12 tour of Australia when Kohli scored only 43 runs in the first two Tests at an average of under 11.
The stylish right-hander finally showed glimpses of his best in the third Test at Perth with scores of 44 and 75. Finally, the moment when he scored his first Test century arrived in the final match of the series in Adelaide.
Faced with verbal barrages from the Australian fielders and the crowd, Kohli smashed a brilliant 213-ball 116 with India struggling at 87/4 in their first innings.
He addressed the press conference on the evening after scoring his maiden Test century and said as quoted by ESPNCricinfo:
"To give it back verbally and then score a hundred is even better. I mean, we don't go out there to take any kind of stuff from anyone. We are international cricketers as well. They should know that. We need to let them know that. Be it in any way. By talking and by performing. It's much more satisfying. They sledge when they get frustrated. Obviously it was hot out there, and constantly they were sledging the players so they could spoil our concentration."
Despite Kohli's sensational century, India could only muster 272 in their first innings, conceding a massive 332-run lead to the hosts.
Chasing 500 for victory, Kohli was run out for 22 as India suffered a 298-run defeat to lose the series 0-4.
Virat Kohli and Adelaide - A match made in cricketing heaven
Virat Kohli has enjoyed incredible success at the Adelaide Oval throughout his Test career. After scoring his maiden Test century in the 2011-12 tour, the 36-year-old did one better in the following tour in 2014-15.
Kohli smashed centuries in both innings of the series opener at Adelaide and almost helped India pull off a miraculous fourth-innings run-chase of 364.
The Adelaide love affair paused for a brief moment in the 2018-19 series with scores of only three and 34. However, Kohli returned to his best in the day-night affair in Adelaide in 2020-21 with a brilliant 74 in the first innings before being run out.
Despite missing out in the second innings of that contest, the veteran batter averages a sensational 63.63 with three centuries.
Kohli will be back in action at the Adelaide Oval when India takes on Australia in the second Test of the ongoing series, starting December 6.