Former India and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli smacked a magnificent hundred against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), thus ending his four-year drought for a three-figure score in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Thursday. Following his century, his wife, Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma's special five-word message for her husband won the internet.
Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma are known for their public display of affection – from stadiums to social media platforms to host parties for the Delhi-born cricketer's RCB side, the two have often set couple goals for their fans.
While Anushka Sharma wasn't present inside the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad when Virat Kohli scripted IPL history against SRH earlier this week, she did send her best wishes for the talismanic batter after his record century.
Posting pictures of Virat Kohli from his ton against SRH, Anushka Sharma also wrote a sweet caption for her husband's superhuman effort on the field.
She wrote -“He is (dynamite emoji). What a inning” alongside a ‘heart' and a ‘100' emoji.
Virat Kohli receives special praise from wife Anushka Sharma after century against SRH ❤️#IPL2023 #RCB #ViratKohli #AnushkaSharma #InsideSport pic.twitter.com/mvPbTqgf9S
— InsideSport (@InsideSportIND) May 19, 2023
This isn't the first time Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli have shared their love for each other during the current edition of the IPL.
Earlier in the tournament, Virat Kohli blew kisses in her lady love's direction after he took a sensational catch to dismiss an opposition batter.
Speaking about the RCB maestro's knock in the Telangana capital, Virat Kohli equaled his former teammate Chris Gayle's record for the most centuries in the IPL. The 34-year-old iconic batter struck his sixth hundred of the premier T20 competition to secure the vital two points for his franchise.
Virat Kohli, who shared a 172-run opening partnership with RCB skipper Faf du Plessis looked in spectacular touch from start to finish as he toyed with SRH's bowlers, eventually departed for a scintillating 100 off 63 balls.
However, by the time Virat Kohli left the crease, he had sealed the match for RCB as Aiden Markram and his boys had no answer to the former India captain's onslaught.
From the word go, it looked like Virat Kohli's night in Hyderabad as he began his knock with two gorgeous drives against Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the opening over of their run chase.
Afterward, there was no looking back for Virat Kohli as the master batter flicked, drove, cut, pulled, and lofted the ball over the boundary, both with elan and comfort.
Virat Kohli's masterful knock included a massive 103-meter six that went miles into the stands.
With his century against SRH, Virat Kohli drew level with Chris Gayle for the most tons in IPL history. Both players have six three-figure scores in the event.
Also, Virat Kohli went past Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul to become the Indian batter with the most T20 hundreds to his name. While Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul have six centuries each in the format, Virat Kohli took his tally to seven. While he has scored six in the IPL, the ex-India skipper made one for Team India in the Asia Cup last year.
Before his knock against SRH, Virat Kohli came in for heavy criticism for his slow batting in IPL 2023, with even RCB hopefuls taking a dig at him multiple times. Some went on to say that Virat Kohli was batting like a Test match specialist in T20 cricket.
The ex-RCB skipper hit back at his critics in style, letting his bat do all the talking in the match against SRH.
“Quite special considering the magnitude of the game. We saw the ball was gripping in the middle. We wanted a solid start but did not expect to be 172 for no loss. That's how well Faf and I have played, he's been on a different level. I had a quiet couple of games and wasn't hitting as well in the game as I was in the nets. My intent from ball 1 was to go after the bowlers. There was a dip but I wanted to take it up in the right time. Happy that it all came together nicely,” Virat Kohli told former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta in the post-match presentation ceremony.
“I was telling the boys – the way I'm looked at as an IPL player as well is like ‘yeah, he's fine, a few impact knocks'. But it's my 6th IPL hundred. I don't give enough credit to myself. I never look at past records (not great numbers against SRH).”
“I put myself under so much stress already. I don't care what anyone says on the outside, because that's their opinion. It's like… when you are in that situation yourself, you know how to win games of cricket and I've done that for a long period of time. It's not like I don't win games for my team. It's playing the situation (that) I take pride in,” he added.
“I've never been a guy who plays so many fancy shots and throws my wicket away. It's Test cricket (coming up) after the IPL, so I have to stay true to my technique. When I can make impact in an important game, it gives me confidence, and gives the team confidence,” Virat Kohli elaborated.
Meanwhile, Chris Gayle, whose record Virat Kohli broke, showered accolades on his former RCB Colleague. The Universe Boss said he was lonely at the top of the pile, but he would now get good company with Virat Kohli joining him there with six centuries.
“Welcome young man and welcome to the highest century makers club. I was bored. I was lonely and bored. I was like ‘I need some company at the top'. Now I have got it and we can have a talk now, Virat,” Chris Gayle said on JioCinema on Friday.
“He was so aggressive from ball one. When he hit that first boundary, he was like ‘it's my day today and I am going to make it count'. He delivered for his team. Virat seldom plays a lot of sweep, but to see him play sweeps against left-arm spinners was lovely. It was a superb innings and he was complemented by Faf as well,” Chris Gayle pointed out.
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