Ricky Ponting praises Virat Kohli’s gesture of thanking Anushka Sharma after his 71st hundred
After Virat Kohli scored the much-anticipated 71st international century during the Asia Cup 2022 Super Four match against Afghanistan earlier this month, Ricky Ponting praised Virat Kohli for acknowledging that his wife Anushka Sharma was his pillar of strength during his lean patch.
At the same time, Ponting discussed how Kohli was able to recapture his lost mojo with the bat after taking a break. After the megastar batsman’s team finished their tour of England in the middle of July, he decided to take an extended hiatus from the sport. As a result, he was unable to play in the limited-overs series against the West Indies and the three ODIs that followed in Zimbabwe.
“It’s great that he’s back on the field. It’s great to see him back and smiling. That’s the thing, right?” Ponting said to ICC.
“He was so happy, and I suppose he’s glad that the patch is over. He also talked about how much his wife meant to him in the last few years of his life, which was also very nice to hear. A lot of that stuff isn’t talked about, especially in men’s sports,” added Ponting.
“Just how your family and close friends affect you as you go through your career. So it’s good to hear that, and it’s also nice to see Virat back in the runs,” he added,
Not only did it come after a long wait of over three years, but it also happened to be Virat’s first Twenty20 International century, which added another layer of significance to the 71st century he scored for India in international competition.
The batting legend had a fantastic Asia Cup 2022, as he ended as the second-highest run-getter of the tournament. He scored a total of 276 runs over the course of five innings, making him the second-highest run-getter overall. In addition to the century, Kohli also hit two half-centuries, one against Hong Kong and the other against Pakistan, the team’s most bitter opponent.
During the next Twenty20 International series against Australia, Virat Kohli will be aiming for his 72nd international century. The first match is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 20, at the PCA Stadium in Mohali.
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