On This Day: Virat Kohli Ends 1020-Day Wait with 71st Century as India Thrash Afghanistan in Asia Cup 2022

But on September 8, 2022, at 8:52 PM, everything changed. A sweet strike over deep midwicket against Fareed Ahmad brought up his long-awaited 71st international century. The moment not only ended the drought but also marked the beginning of “Virat Kohli 2.0”, a chapter where he rediscovered his dominance and went on to inspire India in the years that followed.

India vs Afghanistan: 8th September 2022

September 8, 2022, was a night to remember at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. India, already out of the running for the 2022 Men’s T20 Asia Cup final, faced Afghanistan in a Super Four match that turned into a stage for Virat Kohli’s brilliance. Though the game was a dead rubber, it felt anything but, as Kohli unleashed an unbeaten 122 off 61 balls, his 71st international century and his first in T20Is. India posted a towering 212/2 in 20 overs, powered by Kohli’s masterclass, KL Rahul’s stylish 62 off 41, and Rishabh Pant’s steady 20 not out off 16.

Afghanistan’s captain, Mohammad Nabi, won the toss and chose to bowl, hoping to exploit any early moisture under the Dubai lights. India’s openers, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, walked out to face a talented Afghan attack led by Fazalhaq Farooqi’s left-arm pace and Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s mystery spin. Farooqi started with purpose, swinging the ball back into Rahul, who responded with a flicked two past short fine leg in the first over. Kohli, meanwhile, took his time, sizing up Mujeeb’s spin before unfurling a gorgeous lofted cover drive for four in the third over.

By the powerplay’s end, India were 52/0 after six overs. Rahul, on 26 with four crisp boundaries, looked in control, while Kohli, with 25 (three fours, one six), was finding his groove. The highlight was Kohli’s six off Mujeeb in the fifth over, a lofted shot over long-off that sailed with such ease it felt like he was practicing in the nets. The pair played smart cricket, picking singles to keep the scoreboard moving and pouncing on anything loose. Rahul, in particular, showed his class with a flicked six over the keeper off Fareed Ahmad in the 12th over, the ball disappearing with a flick of his wrists.

The middle overs were where India took control. Rahul and Kohli’s 119-run opening stand, built over 12.4 overs, was a textbook T20 partnership, measured yet punishing. Rahul reached his fifty off 35 balls with a silky drive through extra cover, his footwork impeccable. But his attempt at another lofted shot off Fareed Ahmad ended his stay at 62 (six fours, two sixes), caught by Najibullah Zadran at long-on. Enter Suryakumar Yadav, India’s T20 sparkplug. His second ball, a full toss from Fareed, was dispatched over fine leg for a six that smashed a fridge in the stands, a moment that had commentators chuckling. But Suryakumar’s cameo was brief as he was bowled for 6 off 2 balls, trying to repeat the shot, leaving India at 125/2.

Kohli, now joined by Rishabh Pant, shifted into overdrive. Their unbeaten 87-run third-wicket stand was a masterclass in T20 batting. Pant, with 20 not out off 16 balls (three fours), played the anchor, letting Kohli steal the show. And steal it he did. Kohli’s century, his first since November 2019, was a mixture of classic shots and T20 innovation. He reached fifty off 32 balls with a pristine cover drive off Farooqi, the ball pinging off his bat like a gunshot. Then came the onslaught. In Fareed Ahmad’s 18th over, Kohli hammered a four through long-off and a flat six over midwicket to bring up his hundred off 53 balls. The Dubai crowd roared as he kissed his wedding ring, a nod to his wife, Anushka Sharma.

The 19th over, bowled by Farooqi, was Kohli at his audacious best. He launched a six over long-off, followed by a no-look six over deep square leg that left fans gasping. The shot, played with a casual flick while looking away, was pure showmanship. A four past extra cover followed, and the final over, bowled by Azmatullah Omarzai, bled 18 runs. Kohli finished on 122 not out (12 fours, six sixes), his strike rate a blistering 200. From 59 off 40 balls, he blazed to 122 off 61, scoring 72 runs off his last 21 deliveries.

This wasn’t just a knock as it was a statement. Kohli, who faced relentless scrutiny over his T20 form, spoke post-match about how a six-week break had rekindled his love for cricket, crediting Anushka for her support. His shot-making was a mix of textbook drives, aerial lofts, and powerful pulls, with those no-look sixes adding a modern flair. Afghanistan’s bowlers were left shell-shocked. Fareed Ahmad (2/57) got both wickets but was costly, while Farooqi (0/51) and Rashid Khan (0/33) couldn’t find answers. Mujeeb (0/29) and Nabi (0/34) tried everything, but Kohli’s dominance, especially in the death overs (87 runs in the last five), was unstoppable. India’s 212/2 was their highest T20I total against Afghanistan, a mountain too steep for their opponents.

Chasing 213, Afghanistan’s batting folded under India’s relentless bowling, limping to 111/8 in 20 overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s sensational 5/4 in four overs, including a maiden, tore through their top order, leaving them in ruins. Ibrahim Zadran’s unbeaten 64 off 59 balls was a lone beacon of hope, but it couldn’t prevent a 101-run drubbing. The innings exposed Afghanistan’s struggles against elite bowling but highlighted Zadran’s potential as a future star.

The chase started with a nightmare. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, swinging the ball like a magician, struck twice in the first over. Hazratullah Zazai was pinned lbw for a duck, rooted by an inswinger, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz followed, bowled for another duck as the ball jagged back to hit the stumps. Kumar wasn’t done. In the third over, he dismissed Karim Janat (2 off 4) and Najibullah Zadran (0 off 2) with deliveries that moved late, both batsmen helpless. By the fifth over, Mohammad Nabi (7 off 7) was lbw to Arshdeep Singh’s skiddy pace, and in the sixth, Azmatullah Omarzai (1 off 6) edged Kumar to Dinesh Karthik behind the stumps. At 21/5 after the powerplay, Afghanistan’s hopes were in tatters.

Ibrahim Zadran, however, refused to surrender. With the top order gone, he dug in, focusing on survival while picking off runs when possible. His first boundary, a driven four off Deepak Chahar in the fourth over, was a sign of his intent to fight. Zadran’s approach was patient, almost defiant, as he navigated India’s relentless attack. He found some support in a 33-run stand with Rashid Khan, who scored 15 off 19 balls with two fours before lofting a catch to Axar Patel off Deepak Hooda in the 13th over.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman added late spark, smashing 18 off 13 balls (two fours, one six) in a 33-run partnership with Zadran, but Ravichandran Ashwin ended his stay, bowling him in the 18th over. Fareed Ahmad (1 not out) hung on, but Afghanistan could only crawl to 111/8. Zadran’s 64 not out, with four fours and two sixes, was a gem. He reached fifty off 55 balls, showing maturity beyond his years, and his lofted six off Dinesh Karthik in the 19th over was a rare moment of defiance. But the target was never within reach, and his knock was more about pride than victory.

India’s bowlers were ruthless. Bhuvneshwar’s 5/4 was a masterclass, his swing dismantling Afghanistan’s batting. Arshdeep Singh (1/7) was miserly, while Ashwin (1/27) used his guile to choke the middle order. Deepak Chahar (0/28) and Axar Patel (0/24) kept the pressure on, and Hooda (1/3) chipped in with Rashid’s wicket. Karthik’s lone over went for 18, but it was a minor blip. Afghanistan’s assistant coach, Raees Ahmadzai, later spoke of the team’s need for more exposure against top sides, a sentiment echoed by their collapse. Kohli’s century and India’s bowling dominance made this a one-sided affair, but the match will be remembered for its emotional weight, a king reclaiming his throne and a young talent shining in defeat.