NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli He has always enjoyed batting Down Under and he proved that again with a brilliant century in the first Test against Australia in Perth.
This marked his return to form and ended a century-long drought since his last win against the West Indies in Port of Spain last year. It was also Kohli's first Test century away from home in five years.
The former India captain is now eagerly awaiting the second Test, which will be a pink-ball affair Adelaide Oval from Friday. And Kohli's love affair with Adelaide is no secret, where he has enjoyed more success than any other international venue.
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“I absolutely love playing on this ground,” Kohli said at the Adelaide Oval in November 2022.
“From the nets in defence, I feel at home straight away…when I come here it's like I'm destined to come to Adelaide and enjoy my batting.”
Kohli has an exceptional record across all formats at Adelaide Oval. In total, he played 15 innings and scored 957 runs at an average of 73.61, which included 5 centuries and 4 half-centuries.
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Kohli has the highest number of centuries at the venue among all international cricketers from countries other than Australia.
In Test matches, Kohli has scored 509 runs in 8 innings at an average of 63.62, with three centuries and one half-century.
In ODIs, he has made 244 runs from 4 innings at an average of 61, including two centuries. In the T20 matches, Kohli has played three innings and scored 204 runs at a remarkable average of 204 with three half-centuries.
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Kohli's affection for Adelaide dates back to January 2012 when he scored his maiden Test century. In India's next tour Down Under in 2014, Kohli donned the captain's cap after the legendary MS Dhoni announced his retirement from the game's longest format.
And he couldn't have asked for a better return to Adelaide for his first Test as India captain, scoring tons in both innings. However, India ended up losing the game by 48 runs.
