Virat Kohli, one of cricket’s modern-day greats, is experiencing yet another long wait for a century. His last international hundred came many innings ago, and now the anticipation for his 81st century is growing with every match. Kohli’s form in recent games has been solid, but the century mark continues to elude him. In the second innings of the Bengaluru Test, he was dismissed for 70 runs, extending his current century drought to 24 innings.
Kohli’s Century Droughts: A Recurring Challenge
While Kohli is no stranger to scoring centuries, long waits between them are not new to him. This current phase, however, is the fourth such occasion in his career where a century has seemed just out of reach. Despite his brilliance at the crease, there have been instances in the past where the century milestones took longer than usual to arrive.
The Longest Wait: 71st Century After 1020 Days
Kohli’s longest wait for a century was for his 71st. He endured 1020 days and 83 innings without a hundred. This drought started in November 2019 and finally ended in September 2022 when Kohli smashed 122 runs off 61 balls against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup. This was not only a relief for Kohli but also his first-ever century in T20 international cricket.
Other Long Droughts: The Sixth and 26th Centuries
Before the wait for his 71st century, Kohli faced two other lengthy gaps between hundreds. The wait for his 26th international century spanned 25 innings, while his sixth century also kept him waiting for 24 innings. These long intervals between milestones have tested Kohli’s patience and resilience, but he has always bounced back stronger.
The Current Wait: Will the 81st Century Come Soon?
As of now, Kohli’s current wait for his 81st international century stands at 24 innings. The question on every cricket fan’s mind is when this wait will end. Kohli has been in good form, converting starts into solid scores, but the three-figure mark has remained elusive. His fans and the cricketing world are eagerly waiting for him to break through and add another century to his already illustrious career.
Kohli vs. Sachin: The Race to 100 Centuries
With 80 international centuries to his name, Kohli is only behind Sachin Tendulkar, who holds the record with 100 centuries. Many believe that Kohli has the potential to surpass Tendulkar’s record, but with his current century drought, the path ahead seems challenging. If the wait for his 81st century continues, the pressure will only build as the milestone inches closer.
