Despite playing 125 T20 international matches, the player in question managed only one century
The Asia Cup 2025 is here, and this time, India will feature
as the defending champion. Despite being a strong outfit with mostly young players, the team will miss the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have retired from the T20I format. This year, the Asia Cup will follow the T20I format.
Despite Virat Kohli retiring from the format, it is important to note his special relationship with the Asia Cup, given he retired as the second-highest century hitter (combined format) in the tournament’s history. Not to be forgotten, his only international century came in the 2022 Asia Cup.
T20I career
(Credit- India TV News)
Before we dive into Kohli’s epic T20 century, let us look at his T20I numbers. The former T20I batter played 125 international matches, scoring 4188 runs at an average of 48.69 and a strike rate of 137.04. Kohli has managed 38 half-centuries in the format but has only achieved one century.
One century
(Credit- The Bridge)
In the 2022 Asia Cup, India faced Afghanistan in the Super 4 stage. However, the match didn’t carry much weight, given that both sides had already been eliminated from the tournament. Still, the game was crucial for Kohli as he was going through a lean patch. In fact, before this game against Afghanistan, Kohli’s last century in any format was 1,020 days ago. The Delhi-based lad was eager to register his 71st international century.
Slow start, and a missed chance
Virat Kohli opened for India, which was only his ninth opening ever in the T20I format for India. However, he was accustomed to the situation, given that he had opened for Royal Challengers Bengaluru on multiple occasions.
The No. 18 player got off to a slow start with 10 runs in 10 deliveries. However, as the field opened up, Kohli gradually adjusted his pace to reach the required speed. In the eighth over, the Indians suffered a scare when a ball off Mohammad Nabi would’ve caught out Kohli, but Ibrahim Zadran couldn’t hold on and gave Kohli a lifeline.
(Credit- Times Now Hindi)
Kohli reached 50 in 32 balls and further accelerated his innings in the death overs. In the second ball of the 19th over, Kohli finally scored his maiden T20I hundred with a six. This was Kohli’s first century in 84 innings after a span of 1,020 days.
Kohli played 53 balls to remain unbeaten at 122, which helped India post 212 runs on the board. He maintained a strike rate of 200 and hit 12 fours and six sixes during his innings.
Kohli’s statement
In the post-match ceremony, Kohli said, “I have absolutely no shame in admitting that God is blessing us all with everything in our destiny; we just have to work hard. So, I went back to the drawing board, came back fresh and excited. The team environment has had great communication with me, kept me relaxed, and kept my perspective right.”
