Virat Kohli scored his first international century since November 2019 with his first T20 century for India against Afghanistan on Thursday at the Asia Cup in Dubai. India amassed 212-2 against Afghanistan.
After India were eliminated from the competition and put into bat in their final Super Four match in Dubai, the top batsman remained unbeaten on 122 off 61 deliveries with 12 fours and two sixes.
Kohli, 33, smashed a four and a six off of fast bowler Fareed Ahmad to reach his maiden century for India in over three years – his last century came against Bangladesh in a Test.
His previous best in 103 T20 Internationals since his 2010 debut was 94 not out.
He shared an opening stand of 119 with KL Rahul, who scored 62, to create the foundations for the massive total as the Afghan bowlers battled for a second consecutive day.
Kohli scored his third fifty-plus in the competition, which serves as a warm-up for the T20 World Cup in Australia in October-November.
The Afghans suffered a sad loss to Pakistan on Wednesday, falling by one wicket and therefore being eliminated from the tournament.
Pakistan will take against Sri Lanka in Sunday’s final.
Before Rahul and Kohli attacked the opposition bowlers with a flurry of boundaries in the first six overs, the Indian openers began tentatively.
The top batsman reached fifty in 32 deliveries after surviving a missed catch by Ibrahim Zadran in the deep on ball number 28.
Rahul scored fifty with two consecutive fours off of the captain of the opposing team, Mohammad Nabi, but was dismissed in the next over.
Fareed broke the century stand and bowled Suryakumar Yadav for six two balls later.
The remainder of the innings belonged to Kohli, who smashed the bowlers to all areas of the pitch as he overtook Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 276 runs in five matches.
Kohli’s outstanding career includes 27 Test and 43 ODI centuries.