For India skipper Virat Kohli, it was another record-setting day on the cricket field.
The 31-year-old batsman, who has made it a habit to shatter milestones in cricket, equalled the record set by Ricky Ponting for scoring the most number of international centuries across formats as captain. This was Kohli’s 41st ton as captain and he got to the record held by Ponting in exactly half the number of innings: 188 compared to 376.
One of Bangladesh’s concussion substitutes for the match, Taijul Islam, sent back Kohli on 136 with a stunning outfield catch on day two of the first day-night Test for both teams. It was a necessary breakthrough for the visitors because yet another double century seemed imminent for Kohli.
Taijul returned to the XI alongwith Mehidy Hasan as substitutes for Nayeem Hasan and Liton Das, both of whom pulled out due to concussion fears after being hit on the helmet in India’s pink ball debut in Kolkata.
Taijul, a left-arm spinner, made it count with a wicket of Ajinkya Rahane for 51 and then played a big hand in Kohli’s prized wicket off paceman Ebadat Hossain.
Kohli, who completed his 27th Test century in the first session, flicked a sliding leg-side delivery from Ebadat to be caught by a diving Taijul at fine leg. Taijul seemed to have misjudged the ball before he leapt to his right and remained airborne while taking the catch with both hands.
It was Ebadat’s third delivery with the second new ball that Bangladesh took in the 81st over.
A disbelieving Kohli returned to a standing ovation from the packed crowd at Eden Gardens that remains sold out for the first four days of the spectacle.
India declared with a lead of 241 runs.
Here’s a selection of the reactions to Kohli’s classy century:
Hundred stats are great and all, but the most amazing set of numbers in Kohli’s career is he averages more than fifty in all three international formats. That is RIDICULOUS.
— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) November 23, 2019
He’s on one here! Best player to watch batting??? Surely! #kohli #INDvBAN
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) November 23, 2019
Red ball - Scored a century in his first innings as captain.
— bet365 (@bet365) November 23, 2019
White ball - Scored a century in his second innings as captain.
Pink ball - Scored a century in his first innings as captain.
Virat Kohli = 👑#INDvBAN pic.twitter.com/sGDAoCu22Q
Kohli’s march to all-time greatness continues uninterrupted. Weak opponents, sure, but a century does not come as a gift. And what an amazing converion rate!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) November 23, 2019
Most Test 100s as captain:
— ICC (@ICC) November 23, 2019
Graeme Smith 👉 25
Virat Kohli 👉 20
Ricky Ponting 👉 19
Kohli has gone to No.2 on the list today! #INDvBAN pic.twitter.com/EOaI6QqLMF
Virat Kohli's last score across various formats & leagues at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata
— Perry's Warrior #AnyoneButKXIP (@k_vijayendra8) November 23, 2019
T20Is: 55* v Pakistan, World T20 2016
ODIs: 92 v Australia, 2nd ODI 2017
Tests: 130* (Batting) v Bangladesh, 2nd Test 2019
IPL: 100 v KKR, 2019 #INDvBAN pic.twitter.com/54l7VEb5sK
Another classy century. 27. In the same number of innings it took Tendulkar. Kohli idolises Tendulkar, he is, literally, following in his footsteps
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 23, 2019
India's first pink-ball hundred, very fittingly by King Kohli!
— Manya (@CSKian716) November 23, 2019
Save this tweet, might come in a KBC question for 7 Cr. 👅#INDvBAN
Most international 100s as Captain:
— 17 (@varun_rayudu) November 23, 2019
V Kohli - 41*(188 inns)
Ponting - 41 (376 inns)
G Smith - 33 (368 inns)
S Smith - 20 (118 inns)
M Clarke - 19 (171 inns)@imVkohli 🐐#INDvsBAN
So Virat Kohli Becomes The First Indian To Score A Century With Red, White & Pink Ball.. What A Player, Trend Setter.. 🔥🔥🔥 #INDvBAN
— Adil 🇮🇳 (@Addi_Salman) November 23, 2019
13th time today that I saw Kohli score a ton, live from the stadium.
— Prajakta Bhawsar (@18prajakta) November 23, 2019
From scoring a ton to displaying cover drives & straight drives to smashing 4 consecutive boundaries. 1st Indian to score a ton in pink ball test cricket.
The unreal metaphor of living @imVkohli ❤️#INDvBAN pic.twitter.com/sbhxpAl0rS
Kohli played exactly half the no. of innings Ponting played as captain pic.twitter.com/xmuWQePvOt
— Abhi (@fakeacc_18) November 23, 2019
are you even allowed to be as good as Virat Kohli is? #INDvBAN
— arsee. (@dream24ifiedx) November 23, 2019
Nothing new today:
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) November 23, 2019
Kohli made a century
Amit Shah formed Government
Sony Max is showing Sooryavansham#IndvBan #MaharashtraPolitics
I haven't seen any player in the world who plays better extra cover drive than Virat Kohli - Sunil Gavaskar on air. #KingKohli 👑 pic.twitter.com/JCJhRq0Rgb
— Jayesh😎 (@jayeshvk16) November 23, 2019
Virat Kohli scores a Test hundred. Coming up next: night follows day. #PinkBallTest #IndvBan
— Rick Eyre on cricket (@rickeyrecricket) November 23, 2019