Virat Kohli Century: Ending a Three-Year Drought

 Virat Kohli, the Indian cricket team's former captain and one of the best batsmen in the world, ended his three-year-long century drought with an outstanding 186 in the Ahmedabad Test against Australia on Day 4. Kohli's 28th Test ton was his first since November 2019, and it helped India take a lead of 91 runs and put pressure on Australia to save the game. 

 Kohli is known for his aggressive batting style, but he played a more patient and controlled inning in this match. He battled cramps and endured the scorching heat of the Motera Stadium to produce a gritty performance. Kohli's century against Australia, his eighth against them, was one of his most significant from a personal and team point of view. 

 Kohli came into the game with scores of 12, 44, 20, 22, and 13 on turning tracks, and he must have sensed that the docile track at Motera was his best chance to score big. He didn't need extra motivation, having gone through a tough phase in the last three years. Kohli's form started slipping, and his average dropped below 50, considered the benchmark for a great Test batter. He was no longer a part of the debate on the world's top four batters.

 Kohli's slump in form coincided with his stepping down as T20 captain, losing his one-day captaincy, and then relinquishing the Test captaincy. However, Kohli is wiser for the experience and has mellowed. He realized the importance of taking risks and playing according to the situation's demands.

 In this match, Kohli showed immense self-control and curbed his strokes, evident when he hit only five fours in his innings. Kohli didn't hit a boundary in the entire first session on Day 4, and his next boundary came after 162 balls. His innings could be compared to Sachin Tendulkar's epic double century in Sydney in 2003 when he didn't play the cover drive. Kohli's innings also showed his determination and fighting spirit, which are the hallmarks of a great player. Australia's stand-in skipper Steve Smith tried to dry up the runs with defensive field placements for a disciplined bowling attack, but Kohli didn't blink. With a packed leg-side field, Smith's ploy was to entice Kohli to play inside out or go aerial, but Kohli stuck to his game plan and continued to bat with single-minded focus. 

 Kohli's century against Australia was significant not just for him but also for the Indian cricket team. It came at a crucial time when the team needed someone to step up and take charge. In the absence of Shreyas Iyer, Kohli batted with KS Bharat and Axar Patel to bat the visitors out of the game. In conclusion, Virat Kohli's century against Australia in the Ahmedabad Test was an exceptional inning that showed his maturity, patience, and self-control. It also highlighted his determination and fighting spirit, which are the hallmarks of a great player. Kohli's century ended a three-year-long drought and gave India a chance to put Australia under pressure on the final day of the Test. Kohli's innings were a testament to his skill, demonstrating that he is still one of the best batsmen in the world.