It was an emotional day at the JSCA stadium in Ranchi on Friday (March 8).
On a day when veteran MS Dhoni may have played his last international game on his home ground, the Men in Blue wore camouflage caps as a mark of respect for the Indian Armed Forces.
Unfortunately, the result of India’s third ODI against Australia went against the hosts’ favour.
After Usman Khawaja’s 104 powered Australia to post 313 for 5 on the board, India managed to put 281 in 48.2 overs, that too solely because of captain Virat Kohli’s 41st ODI century.
Kohli smashed a 95 ball 123 but lacked adequate support from the other end as Australia kept the five-match ODI series alive going into the fourth game in Chandigarh on March 10.
Kohli’s knock was laced with 16 fours and a six, he scored his first 50 off 52 balls and the next 50 off just 33 balls. En route to his hundred, Kohli also became the fastest batsman to complete 4,000 ODI runs as captain.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
I love watching @imVkohli bat & play cricket as he never ever gives up & always believes his team can win when he’s batting. Just a terrific attitude & one that warms my heart. Congrats to Oz on a wonderful win, some great signs with bat & ball ! Very happy for @AaronFinch5 too !
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) March 8, 2019
The 🐐 is at it again … #Virat
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/KP24/status/1104029979963260928
Now that’s talent appreciating talent 👏👏👏👏.
— Suniel Shetty (@SunielVShetty) March 9, 2019
What a champion @imVkohli great 100… needed few others to step in to support him to win tonight.. hope they will learn from this game and bounce back in the next game.. well done australia tonight.. #INDVAUS
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) March 8, 2019
A truly sublime innings from Virat Kohli today, made it look very easy while rest of the batsman found the going tough. Handy contribution from Shankar again but Australia were really the better side all round today and the deserved winners. #INDvAUS
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) March 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/MitchJohnson398/status/1104059061782245376
Super comeback in the series by Aus. Better all round performance, especially in the batting where the top order made a huge difference. Take away @imVkohli’s magnificent century, India’s batting serious let down
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) March 8, 2019
In other news…. @imVkohli … Absolutely next level! Have run out of words to describe this guy! 😱😱😱 #INDvAUS
— Ian Bell (@Ian_Bell) March 8, 2019
Another day, another @imVkohli century! 💯
Number 41 in ODIs, his 25th in a chase! Unreal. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/ejTxRKh6h6
— ICC (@ICC) March 8, 2019
What will @imVkohli numbers be like in 10 year's? Mind blowing! G.O.A.T surely ?
— Brendan Taylor (@BrendanTaylor86) March 8, 2019
Form is temporary….KOHLI is permanent. Superhuman. pic.twitter.com/EPGoxeFgDp
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 8, 2019
Number 41 from @imVkohli 💯👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) March 8, 2019
It isn’t this easy. It isn’t a joke, but this man has made it a joke.
41st for King Kohli. #IndvAus— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) March 8, 2019