Kohli second fastest to 25th, only behind Bradman
Virat Kohli has gone further than any other batsmen since the legendary Don Bradman. The India maestro hit his 25th ton in his 127th innings to become the fastest since Bradman to reach the mark with the latter taking just 68 innings.
Kohli surpassed the feats of predecessors Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar, who accomplished the feat in 130 and 138 innings respectively.
Kohli masterfully notched his 25th century – also his fifth Test ton this year -- on the third morning of the second test on Sunday but fell on the stroke of lunch to leave India at 252 for seven and well short of Australia's first innings tally of 326. India were eventually bowled out for 283 in their first inning as Nathan Lyon picked up a fifer.
It was also Kohli’s sixth century in Australia, which matches the tally of the great Sachin Tendulkar, and ended a drought against Australia with just 83 runs in his past seven test innings against them.
Kohli showed no lasting ill-effects from an earlier injury scare when he was struck on the forearm by a searing Mitchell Starc bouncer and required treatment.
Australia, desperate to level the series after narrowly losing the series-opener in Adelaide, bowled with occasional venom on the grassy wicket, and struck blows late in the session to bookend a perfect start.
Kohli averages over 63 in Australia soil. Only one other batsman had averaged 50 in Australia since 1990 and it was Tendulkar with an average of 53.20. Kohli now has 10 tons in Australia, South Africa and England combined.
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