CHEEKY CHEEKU

It was the Australian summers of 2011-12. Team India had a tough time in the tour, being humiliated by the Aussies. Adding fuel to the misery, MSD had a suspension due to a slow over rate in the third Test match. Virender Sehwag took over the captaincy, and when asked to bat second, with a mighty score to negate, Indian batsmen fell cheaply yet again. When Virat came into bat, India had already lost the likes of Sehwag, Tendulkar, and Dravid with a huge deficit.

But the way Kohli orchestrated his innings was a sheer masterclass. It all began with a fine flick towards the square leg, which truly marked his arrival to the International level. He was authoritative with his shots and progressed well while others were crumbling against the Australian bowling attack. The pulls were executed well, while the drives were elegant on the eye. To me, it will always be remembered as one of Kohli's best early innings, as he made a strong statement that verbals wouldn't work with him.

Though India couldn't avoid the defeat, this particular innings of Kohli could have given a mighty boost to him personally, as he made Adelaide his dream venue, amassing a total of 624 runs in 8 innings, which sub
sets three hundreds in Tests.

Fast forward thirteen years, and today, he stands as a legend with multiple, staggering accomplishments.

 * He has shattered Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI centuries, setting a new benchmark that might never be touched.

 * He continues to be one of the fittest athletes in world cricket, a testament to his dedication.

 * He has redefined batting consistency across all three formats and played a pivotal role in India's success for over a decade.

 * His impact extends beyond statistics; he has inspired a generation with his aggression, fitness, and unwavering commitment.

Happy Birthday Cheeku!!