After becoming the fastest player to reach 5000 Test runs as captain on Day 1 of the second Test match of the series against Bangladesh on Friday, India skipper Virat Kohli added yet another feather to his illustrious cap as he equalled Australian legend Ricky Ponting’s record of 41 international centuries as captain on Day 2 of the match.
It was also Kohli’s 27th Test ton and the 70th overall of his international career so far. He brought up his century with a couple of runs off Taijul Islam’s bowling in the 68th over of the Indian innings on Day 2.
This ton was also Kohli’s 20th as Test captain and it helped him to go past Ponting’s record of 19 Test centuries as captain as well. Only former South Africa skipper Graeme Smith has more centuries (25) to his name as captain in Tests.
The 31-year-old also became the first Indian batsman to score a century in Day/Night Tests in the process. Not only that, he became the fastest to 70 international tons too, as he achieved the feat in 439 innings. He beat the previous best of Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar, who reached the landmark in 505 innings. Ponting is now the third in the list as he took 649 innings to reach the milestone.
Kohli was finally dismissed for 136 off 194 deliveries when Taijul Islam pulled off a stunning catch at the fine leg boundary off Ebadot Hossain’s bowling. India finally declared their innings on 347/9 with a 241-run lead.