Former Indian head coach Rahul Dravid expressed confidence that Virat Kohli could have a standout series against Australia in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, following his century at the start of the series. Dravid highlighted how significant it was for Kohli to get off the mark with a century, especially after a lengthy gap, and believed it could set the tone for a big performance in the series.
Kohli ended his 500+ day Test century drought with a brilliant 100* off 143 balls, featuring eight fours and two sixes, as India secured a dominant 295-run victory over Australia at Perth’s Optus Stadium. His century was a relief after a long wait, as he raised his bat in celebration.
Speaking to Star Sports, Dravid praised Kohli’s form, recalling his impressive performances in South Africa earlier this year. “He’s been batting really well, even in South Africa months ago. It’s nice for him to get that hundred at the start of the series. I think he could have a big series,” Dravid remarked.
This century marked Kohli’s 81st international ton, continuing his pursuit of breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 international centuries. It also became his 30th Test century. With 9,145 runs from 119 Test matches, Kohli boasts an impressive average of 48.13, alongside 30 centuries and 31 fifties. His highest score in Tests is 254*.
Kohli’s remarkable achievements extend to limited-overs cricket as well, with 54 List-A centuries, nine T20 centuries, and 37 first-class centuries, bringing his total to 100 centuries in professional cricket.
Additionally, Kohli became the seventh player in Border-Gavaskar Trophy history to score 2,000 runs. In 26 BGT matches, he has accumulated 2,147 runs at an average of 48.79, including nine centuries and five fifties. His best score in the competition is 186.
Kohli has now scored seven Test centuries in Australia, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record of six, and equaling England’s Wally Hammond for the second-most Test centuries in the country. The record for most Test centuries in Australia is held by England’s Jack Hobbs with nine. Kohli has scored 1,457 runs in Australia at an average of 56.03, with seven centuries and four fifties.
Notably, this century in Australia marks Kohli’s 12th international century there, the most by any player. In 43 matches across 55 innings in Australia, he has scored 3,531 runs at an average of 56.95, with 12 centuries and 19 fifties. His best score is 169.
Since 2020, Kohli has accumulated 1,943 runs in 35 Tests at an average of 32.93, with three centuries and nine fifties.
Dravid also spoke highly of 22-year-old opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has been in excellent form. Reflecting on Jaiswal’s rapid rise, Dravid mentioned, “It’s hard to believe he made his debut just a year and a half ago in the West Indies. To go to Australia and score a century in your first Test on Australian soil, not many have done that. With his hunger, desire, and drive, he will only get better.”
Jaiswal, after a first-innings duck, bounced back with an aggressive 161 runs in the second innings against Australia’s strong bowling attack. In 15 Test matches, Jaiswal has scored 1,568 runs at an average of 58.07, with four centuries and eight fifties, including a best score of 214*. His centuries have all been converted into scores of 150 or more.
Jaiswal is currently the second-highest run-scorer in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle, with 1,568 runs, trailing only England’s Joe Root, who has 1,750 runs from 19 matches.