India captain Virat Kohli succeeded where he had narrowly failed in the first innings by scoring a century to underline his side’s dominant position on the third day of the third Test against England at Trent Bridge on Monday.
Kohli, who made 97 in India’s first-innings 329, was still on his tea score of 93 not out when his edged drive off an outswinger from James Anderson, armed with the new ball, burst through Keaton Jennings’s hands in the gully.
It was the latest dropped catch in the cordon by England this match and Anderson, whose duels with star batsman Kohli have been a feature of this series, put his head to his hands in evident despair after the ball went for four.
Next ball, Kohli edged Anderson, England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker, just short of Alastair Cook at first slip.
There was to be no denying Kohli his century and an edged boundary off Chris Woakes, his 10th four from 191 balls faced in nearly five hours at the crease, saw him to a 23rd Test hundred.
It was also his second in three matches after making 149 – his maiden Test century in England – in the series-opener at Edgbaston.
But having got to the landmark, Kohli was out shortly afterwards when he missed a legside flick against all-rounder Woakes and was lbw for 103.
His exit left India 261 for four in their second innings, with a colossal lead of 449 runs as they sought a victory that would reduce England’s lead in the five-match contest to 2-1.
Twitter was understandably in awe of the India skipper...
We have all gotten so used to Virat Kohli scoring 100’s. Have a feeling he will cherish this one a lot once we win this Test match.
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) August 20, 2018
Hunger & Discipline. That’s what separates him from the rest. Kohli’s indeed the best batsman on the planet across three formats... #23 #ModernMaster
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 20, 2018
He is head and shoulders above anyone else in contemporary cricket at the moment. What a player! Well played @imVkohli second century and 450 plus runs in the series!!
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) August 20, 2018
sixth international hundred this year. Kohli is just bossing cricket. across formats #ENGvIND
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) August 20, 2018
A full blooded rock star in coloured clothing, a meditating monk in whites.. Hope the generation of cricketers being inspired by @imVkohli observe his passion and commitment towards test cricket. You can tell he LOVES it.. and he’s the best in it ! #EngvInd #KingKohli
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) August 20, 2018
💯 for @imVkohli!
— ICC (@ICC) August 20, 2018
After falling on 97 in the first innings, he reaches his 23rd Test ton this time, his second century of the series! What a player! 🙌#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/6g6XUjKUNo
Virat Kohli in Tests...
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) August 20, 2018
23rd Test 100 in 118 inns (69 Tests)
5th 100 vs England
2nd 100 in England
13th away 100
3rd 100 in 2018
16th 100 as captain
3rd 100 in the 3rd inns of the match
19th 100 at #4
30th 100 in fc cricket#EngvInd
Most runs by an Indian captain in a Test series in...
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) August 20, 2018
Australia - KOHLI (449), 2014-15
S Africa - KOHLI (286), 2017-18
England - KOHLI (470*), 2018#EngvInd
Virat Kohli in this series:
— BrokenStats (@Broken_Statz) August 20, 2018
Scored 200 Runs at Edgbaston
Scored 200 Runs at Nottingham
Among all captains with 10+ Test hundreds, only one - Don Bradman - has a better rate of scoring hundreds than Virat Kohli. Bradman scored a hundred every 2.71 innings as captain, Virat every 3.93 innings!#ENGvIND
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) August 20, 2018
Most times scoring more than five centuries in a calendar year in international cricket:
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) August 20, 2018
7 - Sachin Tendulkar
6 - VIRAT KOHLI*
4 - Hashim Amla, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith, David Warner #ENGvIND
Virat Kohli now has 2nd innings Test century
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) August 20, 2018
In Australia
In New Zealand
In Sri Lanka
In India
In England
Virat Kohli's average in Test cricket:
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) August 20, 2018
Before England Test series, 2014: 46.51
England Test series, 2014: 13.40
Between England Test series, 2014 and 2018: 64.89
England Test series, 2018: 73.33#ENGvIND