Among many consequences of Australia’s slide towards a massive defeat in the first Test against India, one of the most seismic may well be that they have allowed Virat Kohli a way into the series.
Coming into bat with his side already 321 runs ahead, albeit against the second new ball, Kohli was handed a gilt-edged opportunity to find his feet on Australian soil against a flagging attack on Sunday, when Perth temperatures neared 37 degrees Celsius.
Virat Kohli celebrates his ton.Credit: Getty Images
A few hours later, Kohli swept a Marnus Labuschagne leg break to the boundary to raise his 30th Test century, seventh in Australia and first of 2024. As Travis Head sprawled along the boundary to try to save four, Kohli did not immediately realise he had got there. After a few moments, though, he broke out into a broad grin as he saluted the crowd.
Read Dan Brettig’s full analysis of day three here.